WordWeb Online

1. Come to pass
   "What is happening?"
   - hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place
    
2. Happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
   "It happens that today is my birthday"
   - befall, bechance [archaic]
    
3. Chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
   "I happen to have just what you need!"
    
4. Come into being; become reality
   - materialize, materialise [Brit]
    
5. Come upon, as if by accident; meet with
   "I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here"
   - find, chance, bump, encounter

Derived forms: happened, happens, happening

See also: happening