befall

verb

be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl How to pronounce befall (audio)
bē-
befell bi-ˈfel How to pronounce befall (audio)
bē-
 ; befallen bi-ˈfȯ-lən How to pronounce befall (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of befallnext

intransitive verb

: to happen especially as if by fate

transitive verb

: to happen to
the fate that befell them

Synonyms

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Examples of befall in a Sentence

It's sad to think of the unhappy fate that befell him. The drought was only one of many hardships to befall the small country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As for what will befall patients at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, Gemmill gave CNN a pretty ominous hint. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025 Over millions of years, the planet's orbit shrank until doom befell it. — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 What follows is an alternately hilarious, bawdy, and sad attempt to solve the former problem before the latter befalls her. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025 Almost immediately thereafter, terrible troubles began to befall me, as if I had been hexed by some stupid moon witch. — Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for befall

Word History

Etymology

Middle English befallen, going back to Old English befeallan (parallel to Old High German bifallan "to fall"), from be- be- + feallan "to fall entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of befall was in the 13th century

Rhymes for befall

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Browse Nearby Words

bef
befall
be/fall prey to
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Cite this Entry

“Befall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befall. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

befall

verb
be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl How to pronounce befall (audio)
befell -ˈfel How to pronounce befall (audio) ; befallen -ˈfȯ-lən How to pronounce befall (audio) ; befalling
1
: to take place : happen
2
: to happen to

More from Merriam-Webster on befall

Nglish: Translation of befall for Spanish Speakers

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