Synonyms for befall
bɪˈfɔlbe·fall

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. befall

   A thing is said to happen when no design is manifest, or none especially thought of; it is said to chance when it appears to be the result of accident (compare synonyms for ACCIDENT). An incident happens or occurs; something external or actual happens to one; a thought or fancy occurs to him. Befall and betide are transitive; happen is intransitive; something befalls or betides a person or happens to him. Betide is especially used for anticipated evil, thought of as waiting and coming at its appointed time; as, wo betide him! One event supervenes upon another event, one disease upon another, etc. ["Transpire," in the sense of happen, is not authorized by good usage: a thing that has happened is properly said to transpire when it becomes known.]

   Synonyms:
   bechance, betide, chance, come to pass, fall, fall out, happen, occur, supervene, take place

   Preposition:
   An event happens to a person; a person happens on or upon a fact, discovery, etc.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. befall

   Synonyms:
   happen, occur, betide, fall, supervene, bechance

   Antonyms:
   miss, pass, spare, pretermit

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. befall, bechance, betideverb

   become of; happen to

   "He promised that no harm would befall her"; "What has become of my children?"

   Synonyms:
   betide, bechance, happen

2. happen, befall, bechanceverb

   happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance

   "It happens that today is my birthday"; "These things befell" (Santayana)

   Synonyms:
   encounter, betide, materialise, fall out, bump, go on, occur, pass off, materialize, bechance, hap, happen, chance, take place, find, pass, come about

Matched Categories

1. • Happen

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. befallverb

   Synonyms:
   betide, overtake, happen to

2. befallverb

   Synonyms:
   happen, occur, take place

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. befallverb

   Synonyms:
   happen, supervene, betide, bechance

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How to use befall in a sentence?

1. Christopher Skaife:

   We are very, very pleased to say here at the Tower of London that we have now got four magnificent chicks, the first time they have been born at the Tower of London for over 30 years, we decided that it would be a really good idea to see if we could actually breed ravens ourselves at the Tower of London to secure our future, after all legend tells us that should the ravens leave the Tower of London it will crumble into dust and a great harm befall the kingdom.

2. Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson:

   I hold it true, whatever befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.

3. Ned Price:

   United States've spoken of the unprecedented nature of sanctions and other economic measures that would befall the Russian Federation in the event of an invasion. Were Belarus -- what should be a sovereign, independent country -- if that country were to support such an invasion, United States response would also be swift and decisive.

4. Phaedrus:

   Submit to the present evil, lest a greater one befall you.

5. Joseph Addison:

   A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves constant ease and serenity within us; and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can befall us from without.