befell

past tense of befall

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of befell Legend has it that sad fates befell those who made her angry and happy ones those who were kind to her. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 The song, written with Dan Wilson, isn’t just a story of the turmoil that befell the band post-2003. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 In March, too, Nix ran through the series of fortunate-turned-unfortunate events that befell him in January. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2026 By not putting out a press release or social media post announcing their Kalshi partnerships, both MLB clubs avoided the kind of embarrassing backlash that befell the New York Mets a few weeks ago. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Perhaps, then, the back spasms that befell him on May 23 were a blessing. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befell
Verb
  • That, however, never happened and an attorney eventually petitioned for his release.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • His death happened two weeks after his release tour for High, Lonesome and Then Some was canceled following Snider’s involvement in a still-unclear incident in Salt Lake City that landed him in a hospital and in jail.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • If a split occurred, the black hole’s horizon — the boundary beyond which light cannot escape — would divide into two separate horizons.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The five killings occurred within a 25-hour period, and the crime scenes range from southwest Charlotte to northeast Charlotte, CMPD said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster