as in happened
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
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Recent Examples of befell
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Sadiki, the Sunderland midfielder, befell that fate here.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Sadiki, the Sunderland midfielder, befell that fate here.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befell
Verb
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The same thing happened with Simply Grand Kitchen and Creamery, which is directly next door to Dunn Deal.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
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If two Republican state senators had voted differently and done right by the people, a massive and legally dubious redrawing of Florida congressional districts would never have happened.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The commission also sent its findings to the Kane County state’s attorney, the Chicago Police Department and police departments in towns where other major immigration enforcement actions occurred, including Elgin, Franklin Park and Evanston, Pritzker said.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Tap to unmute An error occurred.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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