Befall
verb
To happen to.
Nobody knows what will befall in the future.
Often appears as...
- befall someone
- befall a place
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To happen, especially something bad or unfortunate.
Tragic accidents befell many of the workers at the nuclear plant.
Often appears as...
- befall tragedy
- disastrous befall
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To happen to.
Nobody knows what will befall in the future.
Often appears as...
- befall someone
- befall a place
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To happen, especially something bad or unfortunate.
Tragic accidents befell many of the workers at the nuclear plant.
Often appears as...
- befall tragedy
- disastrous befall
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Future Uncertainty
Used when the outcome or event is unknown, often about the future.
It's worrying not to know what fate will befall our hometown.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Contexts
'Befall' doesn't imply good or bad in this definition, but simply that something will happen.
In every life, a little rain must befall.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Use
'Befall' has a slightly formal, old-fashioned tone, often found in literature.
As he gazed upon the stars, he wondered what adventures would befall him.
Pro Tip 1/3Future Uncertainty
Used when the outcome or event is unknown, often about the future.
It's worrying not to know what fate will befall our hometown.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Contexts
'Befall' doesn't imply good or bad in this definition, but simply that something will happen.
In every life, a little rain must befall.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Use
'Befall' has a slightly formal, old-fashioned tone, often found in literature.
As he gazed upon the stars, he wondered what adventures would befall him.
Pro Tip 1/3Future Uncertainty
Used when the outcome or event is unknown, often about the future.
It's worrying not to know what fate will befall our hometown.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Contexts
'Befall' doesn't imply good or bad in this definition, but simply that something will happen.
In every life, a little rain must befall.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Use
'Befall' has a slightly formal, old-fashioned tone, often found in literature.
As he gazed upon the stars, he wondered what adventures would befall him.
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Video examples
The happy secret to...
which is my sister's a little on the clumsy side. Somehow, without any help or push from her older brother at all, Amy disappeared off of the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor. I nervously peered over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she had landed painfully on her hands and knees
Video examples
The happy secret to...
bit on the clumsy side and somehow without any help or push from her older brother at all suddenly Amy disappeared off the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor and I never sleep eared over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she landed painfully on her hands and
Video examples
Is the world getting...
before the risk was brought down a hundredfold. Today, that fate befalls less than six percent of children in the poorest countries of the world. Famine is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It could bring devastation to any part of the world. Today, famine has been banished
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 329 PIPE...
fairly miserable mind but he looked even more miserable today because he was on his own so that's what's going on here at befalls hook water hole what I would like to do now is have a moment of them ambient appreciation
Video examples
My 105 Days in Taliban...
But clear and specific change to existing admission policies can ensure that other minors do not face the same fate that befell me and my family. Fourth -- and this is the most important of them all --
Video examples
My love letter to...
and what I see is someone walking away from me going like this. And then it hits it's bad luck to take gold from No-Face. In the film "Spirited Away," bad luck befalls those who take gold from No-Face.
Video examples
How synthetic biology...
Because, all these terrible scenarios I've painted -- they are not destiny. They're optional. The danger is still kind of distant. And that means it will only befall us if we allow it to.
Video examples
The myth of Arachne -...
One such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne. Arachne was the daughter of a tradesman who spent his days dying cloth the deepest shades of purple.
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
little boy having inherited all of it but tragedies would befall him by three he was fatherless by eight he was an orphan having lost his mother to
Video examples
Exciting news from...
dear ted-ed subscribers splendid luck befell me last month when I had a chance to introduce myself to you in this video
Video examples
The happy secret to...
which is my sister's a little on the clumsy side. Somehow, without any help or push from her older brother at all, Amy disappeared off of the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor. I nervously peered over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she had landed painfully on her hands and knees
Video examples
The happy secret to...
bit on the clumsy side and somehow without any help or push from her older brother at all suddenly Amy disappeared off the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor and I never sleep eared over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she landed painfully on her hands and
Video examples
Is the world getting...
before the risk was brought down a hundredfold. Today, that fate befalls less than six percent of children in the poorest countries of the world. Famine is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It could bring devastation to any part of the world. Today, famine has been banished
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 329 PIPE...
fairly miserable mind but he looked even more miserable today because he was on his own so that's what's going on here at befalls hook water hole what I would like to do now is have a moment of them ambient appreciation
Video examples
My 105 Days in Taliban...
But clear and specific change to existing admission policies can ensure that other minors do not face the same fate that befell me and my family. Fourth -- and this is the most important of them all --
Video examples
My love letter to...
and what I see is someone walking away from me going like this. And then it hits it's bad luck to take gold from No-Face. In the film "Spirited Away," bad luck befalls those who take gold from No-Face.
Video examples
How synthetic biology...
Because, all these terrible scenarios I've painted -- they are not destiny. They're optional. The danger is still kind of distant. And that means it will only befall us if we allow it to.
Video examples
The myth of Arachne -...
One such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne. Arachne was the daughter of a tradesman who spent his days dying cloth the deepest shades of purple.
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
little boy having inherited all of it but tragedies would befall him by three he was fatherless by eight he was an orphan having lost his mother to
Video examples
Exciting news from...
dear ted-ed subscribers splendid luck befell me last month when I had a chance to introduce myself to you in this video
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jane Mayer
American Journalist
It was our view of the worst that could befall our people if they were taken captive. So, what was fascinating to me was that somehow it appears the techniques that we have feared most in the world would be used on our people, we are using on people in our custody.
Quote examples
Eamon de Valera
Irish Statesman
When we have done our best, we can, as a united people, take whatever may befall with calm courage and confidence that this old nation will survive and if death should come to many of us, death is not the end.
Quote examples
Eric Stoltz
American Actor
Things happen to everybody in the course of a lifetime. Relationships end, people die, tragedy befalls everyone. So everyone has this wealth of experience, and the older you are the more you have to draw on.
Quote examples
Pope John Paul II
Polish Saint
Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.
Quote examples
John Muir
American Environmentalist
Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.
Quote examples
Chris Eubank Sr.
British Athlete
Most people seem to think I am something of a character and the things that have befallen me are par for my course.
Quote examples
William Blake
English Poet
I have no name: I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name. Sweet joy befall thee!
Quote examples
W. Somerset Maugham
British Playwright
Few misfortunes can befall a boy which bring worse consequence than to have a really affectionate mother.
Quote examples
Elbert Hubbard
American Writer
The happiness of this life depends less on what befalls you than the way in which you take it.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet.
Quote examples
Jane Mayer
American Journalist
It was our view of the worst that could befall our people if they were taken captive. So, what was fascinating to me was that somehow it appears the techniques that we have feared most in the world would be used on our people, we are using on people in our custody.
Quote examples
Eamon de Valera
Irish Statesman
When we have done our best, we can, as a united people, take whatever may befall with calm courage and confidence that this old nation will survive and if death should come to many of us, death is not the end.
Quote examples
Eric Stoltz
American Actor
Things happen to everybody in the course of a lifetime. Relationships end, people die, tragedy befalls everyone. So everyone has this wealth of experience, and the older you are the more you have to draw on.
Quote examples
Pope John Paul II
Polish Saint
Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.
Quote examples
John Muir
American Environmentalist
Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.
Quote examples
Chris Eubank Sr.
British Athlete
Most people seem to think I am something of a character and the things that have befallen me are par for my course.
Quote examples
William Blake
English Poet
I have no name: I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name. Sweet joy befall thee!
Quote examples
W. Somerset Maugham
British Playwright
Few misfortunes can befall a boy which bring worse consequence than to have a really affectionate mother.
Quote examples
Elbert Hubbard
American Writer
The happiness of this life depends less on what befalls you than the way in which you take it.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet.
Example 1 of 10
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