happen to

verb
UK: /ˌhæpən tə/
US: /ˌhæpən tə/

  1. To do or experience something by chance.

    1. I happen to see her at the mall yesterday. [ ] [ ]
    2. Did you happen to find my keys anywhere, I've lost them again. [ ] [ ]

  2. Used to ask a question in a polite or indirect way.

    1. Do you happen to know what time the movie starts? [ ] [ ]
    2. If you happen to be free later, could you give me a ride home? [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

chance transpire occur befall
happen to idiom

  1. Used to emphasize that something is true, but may seem surprising.

    1. I happen to know the answer to that question. [ ] [ ]
    2. They happen to be best friends, even though they argue a lot. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "happen to" in English means: To do or experience something by chance., Used to ask a question in a polite or indirect way..

The phonetic transcription of "happen to" is /ˌhæpən tə/ in British English and /ˌhæpən tə/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "happen to": chance, transpire, occur, befall.

Example usage of "happen to": "I happen to see her at the mall yesterday.". More examples on the page.