ENGLISH
REFERENCE

happens

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈhæpənz// UK //hˈæpənz// hap·pens

v. to take place or occur, often by chance or without being planned. You use it to talk about events or situations that come into existence.

v. to take place or occur as an event or circumstance. Intransitive — it does not take a direct object and is frequently used with the dummy subject 'it'.


SIMPLE

The accident happens very quickly.

CONTEXTUAL

The festival happens every summer in the park behind the library.

COMPLEX

While the theory explains why the reaction occurs, it does not account for what happens when the temperature exceeds the safety threshold.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

Pitfall

The party was happened yesterdayThe party happened yesterdayThe verb 'happen' is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice.

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference