Word
befall
Phoneticsbe·fall, stress on the second syllable
US/bɪˈfɔɫ/
UK/bɪfˈɔːl/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
befall
Past
befell
Past participle
befallen
Definition
v. to happen to someone or something, often in a way that is unexpected or difficult. It is a very formal word that people usually use when talking about bad luck or serious events.
v. to happen to a person or thing, typically in a manner that is unexpected or unfortunate. Often used in the passive voice to describe misfortune or significant events.
Examples
“The storm soon befalls the small coastal village.”
“The sudden economic downturn soon befalls the local businesses that were not prepared for the change.”
“In the final chapter of the novel, the protagonist's long-held hopes are cruelly befallen by a series of tragic misunderstandings that lead to his exile.”
Examples
simple
“The storm soon befalls the small coastal village.”
contextual
“The sudden economic downturn soon befalls the local businesses that were not prepared for the change.”
complex
“In the final chapter of the novel, the protagonist's long-held hopes are cruelly befallen by a series of tragic misunderstandings that lead to his exile.”
Real-World Examples
“But this near brush with that fate sparked my long-term interest in this predicament that befalls many American consumers who find themselves financially stressed out.” “Fortunately, De Greef avoids the fate that can befall books based on American magazine articles that fail to break free of them, and really enjoys the extra space.” Etymology
From Middle English bifallen, from Old English befeallan, from Proto-West Germanic bifallan, from Proto-Germanic bifallaną; equivalent to be- + fall.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/befall