befall

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "befall" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an intransitive verb with two main meanings: to happen to someone or something (usually something bad), or to come upon someone or something suddenly. Example sentence: We were all devastated when tragedy befell our town.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Should the same fate befall Stjarnan on Saturday, they can at least take comfort from the fact that having completed 22 matches compared to the 18 played by Happy Valley, their failure will have been more epic.

The Guardian - Sport

In the latest violence-related controversy to befall the league, the Minnesota Vikings running back was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, on a charge of causing injury to a child.

The Guardian

As for what will befall Actual Louis in this latest skirmish in the Great X Factor Wars, only time will show.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

However, Giles has said many times that no such consequence would befall the NT.

The Guardian

It's unclear quite how many unfortunate incidents with giant body parts need to befall Miley before she scales things back to less perilous proportions, but we are surely nearing critical mass.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After all, the greatest disasters that ever befall most urban communities move more slowly than a hurricane.

The Guardian

A sterner test than he has yet faced may lie before him, in the form of one of the disasters, natural or man-made, that befall the city from time to time, or a fiscal crunch that could force a hard decision on taxes (vast deficits are projected for years).

The Economist

A sudden jolt (a sharp economic downturn, a new outburst of terrorist attacks, or any mishap that might befall Mr Putin himself) could tip the country over the edge again.

The Economist

But their modern counterparts, whose spacecraft are far more sophisticated, are less inclined to invoke space-faring ghosts for the mishaps that befall them.

The Economist

IF CATASTROPHE were to befall humanity be it plague, nuclear war or an asteroid striking the Earth what provision could be made for the survivors?

The Economist

Should anything else befall him before Israel votes in March, there would be turmoil as his heirs fight it out with a rejuvenated Labour Party on the left and Likud regrouping on the right.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "befall" to add a touch of formality and gravity when describing something negative happening. For example, "Hardships may befall even the most diligent individuals."

Common error

Avoid using "befall" in informal or casual settings. It's more appropriate to say "something happened to me" rather than "something did befall me" in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "befall" is as an intransitive verb. It signifies an event, typically negative, that happens to someone. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of its usage in context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

29%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "befall" is a versatile verb employed to describe events that occur, particularly those of an unfortunate or consequential nature. Its usage is generally confined to more formal contexts, such as news reporting, academic writing, and professional communication. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides ample examples. While alternatives like "happen to" or "fall upon" exist, "befall" lends a distinct sense of gravity and formality to the narrative. It’s best to avoid in casual settings, where more straightforward language is preferred. The phrase appears frequently in authoritative sources such as The Economist and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happen to

This is a direct synonym, focusing on the occurrence of an event affecting someone or something.

fall upon

Emphasizes the sudden and forceful nature of an event impacting someone.

overtake

Suggests an event surpassing or overwhelming someone, often unexpectedly.

come upon

Indicates an event encountering or affecting someone, sometimes by chance.

afflict

Highlights the suffering or distress caused by an event.

be visited by

Implies an external force or event causing an impact, often negative.

experience

A more neutral term for undergoing an event, without necessarily implying negativity.

undergo

Similar to "experience", but can suggest a more difficult or challenging event.

encounter

Implies a chance meeting with an event or situation.

meet with

Suggests an event or outcome that one faces or receives.

FAQs

How to use "befall" in a sentence?

Use "befall" to describe something bad or unfortunate happening to someone or something. For example, "The disaster that did befall the city left many homeless."

What can I say instead of "befall"?

You can use alternatives like "happen to", "fall upon", or "overtake depending on the context".

Is "befall" formal or informal?

"Befall" is generally considered a formal word. It is better suited for formal writing or speech rather than casual conversation.

What's the difference between "befall" and "happen to"?

"Befall" is a more formal and often suggests something negative or unfortunate, while "happen to" is a more neutral and general way of saying something occurred. For example: bad luck did befall them vs what did happen to them?.