1
as in event
something that happens
we must make the best of both the good and the bad haps of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in luck
the uncertain course of events
by hap and circumstance, he ended up as a cartoonist in New York
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to happen
to take place
what wondrous events hath happed this Christmas Day?
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hap
Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
Looking for a slice of hap-Pi-ness?
—Allison Kiehl, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2026
Check out his latest artwork, photos and adventures from the past, and current haps on his website Cory Richards Dot Com.
—Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2025
The stars of 1989's hap-hap-happiest holiday comedy have kept busy since that dysfunctional dinner.
—Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming.
—Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
With an optical band hap of about 1.74 eV, the perovskite cell demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 17 percent on its own.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2016
Noun
One false move can lead to trouble, and it hap-pens sooner or later to just about everybody who handles these reptiles.
—Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
Looking for a slice of hap-Pi-ness?
—Allison Kiehl, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2026
Check out his latest artwork, photos and adventures from the past, and current haps on his website Cory Richards Dot Com.
—Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2025
The stars of 1989's hap-hap-happiest holiday comedy have kept busy since that dysfunctional dinner.
—Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming.
—Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
With an optical band hap of about 1.74 eV, the perovskite cell demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 17 percent on its own.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hap
Verb
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Game 6 would be back at Kia Center, and a potential Game 7 would return to Detroit, where anything can happen.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Start the conversation, make your point clearly, and let the response shape what happens next instead of adjusting midstream.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there was something delightful about how each new director built on the original formula.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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There are ways of using social media as just a private photo album or a diary, but it is designed to be public and for content to spread beyond its context.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hap. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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