Happy vs. Happen — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Happy and Happen
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Compare with Definitions
Happy
Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
They are happy to see me doing well
Melissa came in looking happy and excited
We're just happy that he's still alive
Happen
To come to pass
Where did the accident happen?.
Happy
Fortunate and convenient
He had the happy knack of making people like him
Happen
To come about as a consequence; result
Trouble always seems to happen when he's around.
Happy
Inclined to use a specified thing excessively or at random
They tended to be grenade-happy
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Happen
To be the fate; become
What will happen to the business when the owner retires?.
Happy
Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy
A happy child.
The happiest day of my life.
Happen
To encounter something by chance
I happened upon an interesting article in the newspaper.
Happy
Cheerful; willing
Happy to help.
Happen
To come or go casually; make an appearance
My friend happened by around dinnertime.
Happy
Characterized by good luck
A happy sequence of events.
Happen
Used with the impersonal subject it and a following clause or infinitive to indicate the occurrence of a usually unexpected or chance event
It happened that I was in the shower when you called. It happened to snow on the night she was born.
Happy
Being especially well-adapted; felicitous
A happy turn of phrase.
Happen
To have the fortune (to be or do something); be in a situation or position (to be or do something)
The bus station happens to be close to the museum. I happen to know the answer to that question.
Happy
Characterized by a spontaneous or obsessive inclination to use something. Often used in combination
Trigger-happy.
Happen
Used with an infinitive to make polite requests
Do you happen to know the time?.
Happy
Enthusiastic about or involved with to a disproportionate degree. Often used in combination
Money-happy.
Clothes-happy.
Happen
(intransitive) To occur or take place.
Let me tell you how it happened.
Happy
Having a feeling arising from a consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, such as comfort, peace, or tranquillity; blissful, contented, joyous.
Music makes me feel happy.
Happen
To happen to; to befall.
Happy
Experiencing the effect of favourable fortune; favored by fortune or luck; fortunate, lucky, propitious.
Happen
To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.
Do you happen to have an umbrella?
I happened to get wet.
Happy
Content, willing, satisfied (with or to do something); having no objection (to something).
Are you happy to pay me back by the end of the week?
Yes, I am happy with the decision.
Happen
To encounter by chance.
Happy
(Of acts, speech, etc.) Appropriate, apt, felicitous.
A happy coincidence
Happen
Maybe, perhaps.
Happy
(in combination) Favoring or inclined to use.
Slaphappy, trigger-happy
Happen
To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out.
There shall no evil happen to the just.
Happy
Dexterous, ready, skilful.
Happen
To take place; to occur.
All these things which had happened.
Happy
Implying 'May you have a happy ~' or similar; used in phrases to wish someone happiness or good fortune at the time of a festival, celebration, or other event or activity.
Happy birthday!, Happy Fourth of July!, Happy anniversary!, Happy job-hunting!
Happen
Come to pass;
What is happening?
The meeting took place off without an incidence
Nothing occurred that seemed important
Happy
A happy event, thing, person, etc.
Happen
Happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance;
It happens that today is my birthday
These things befell
Happy
Often followed by up: to become happy; to brighten up, to cheer up.
Happen
Chance to be or do something, without intention or causation;
I happen to have just what you need!
Happy
Often followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.
Happen
Come into being; become reality;
Her dream really materialized
Happy
Favored by hap, luck, or fortune; lucky; fortunate; successful; prosperous; satisfying desire; as, a happy expedient; a happy effort; a happy venture; a happy omen.
Chymists have been more happy in finding experiments than the causes of them.
Happen
Come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
We find this idea in Plato
I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
Happy
Experiencing the effect of favorable fortune; having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace, tranquillity, comfort; contented; joyous; as, happy hours, happy thoughts.
Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.
The learned is happy Nature to explore,The fool is happy that he knows no more.
Happy
Dexterous; ready; apt; felicitous.
One gentleman is happy at a reply, another excels in a in a rejoinder.
Happy
Enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure or good fortune;
A happy smile
Spent many happy days on the beach
A happy marriage
Happy
Experiencing pleasure or joy;
Happy you are here
Pleased with the good news
Happy
Marked by good fortune;
A felicitous life
A happy outcome
Happy
Satisfied; enjoying well-being and contentment;
Felt content with her lot
Quite happy to let things go on as they are
Happy
Exaggerated feeling of well-being or elation
Happy
Well expressed and to the point;
A happy turn of phrase
A few well-chosen words
A felicitous comment
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