befall upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"befall upon" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to happen to someone unexpectedly or by chance. For example: "Bad luck befell upon Jack when all of his investments suddenly lost value."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As we will see, suspicion can usually befall upon both parties when a dispute takes place.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

This could have been the worst things ever, or the most amazing amalgamation of music royalty to befall upon our sordid, underserving world.

Vice

A leader is just a homogenous part of the group, someone who understands the dynamics and helps them solve problems that may befall upon that group.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Decreases occurred early on, within five days of exposure, which suggests that mortality, and not sub-lethal effects, has befallen upon the organisms.

Ecological Indicators

Just when her and her kid's lives were beginning to take shape again- tragedy befell upon them.

Huffington Post

I could spend my entire life questioning why these circumstances have befallen upon us but as my mom always used to say to me when things got tough, "it is what it is".

Huffington Post

Specific concerns pertaining to judgments of driving capacity are also befalling upon the medical profession in primary care settings [ 1].

BMC Geriatrics

In his Arthur Miller Freedom to Write lecture, delivered in New York in 2007 – a lecture that should be read by anyone interested in undertaking the emotional labour of making any kind of true art – the great Israeli novelist David Grossman said: "The consciousness of the disaster that befell me upon the death of my son Uri in the second Lebanon war now permeates every minute of my life.

The Guardian - Books

One by one a series of surprises befell me: upon opening the walls electrical wiring dating from the thirties and ancient plumbing revealed itself and meant that the work would require completely new installations.

Huffington Post

Despite having been offered a tentative welcome back into something vaguely resembling "the fold" this week, Bastian Schweinsteiger was uninvolved in the debacle and is likely to have spent the evening tittering up his sleeve at the latest misfortune to befall a manager whose first action upon arriving at Old Trafford was to cast the German into the football wilderness.

The Guardian - Sport

Tragedy is more complicated since the sympathy that we feel for the tragic figure is based upon both objective and subjective perfections (i.e., in him or her and us) as well as upon objective imperfection, the pain and injustice that befall him or her.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using simpler and more common alternatives like "happen to" or "fall upon" for greater clarity and impact, especially in informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "befall upon" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for more natural alternatives to maintain a comfortable and accessible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "befall upon" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an event or circumstance that happens to someone or something. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe misfortune or unexpected occurrences affecting individuals or groups.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "befall upon" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an event happening to someone, often with a negative connotation. While deemed correct by Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare, with occurrences primarily in news, media, and scientific contexts. For clearer and more direct communication, simpler alternatives such as "happen to" or "fall upon" may be preferable. When considering how to properly use this phrase it's useful to understand the original meaning and purpose, so that you can write more efficiently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happen to

A more common and straightforward alternative, implying an event occurring without necessarily indicating misfortune.

fall upon

Indicates something coming to rest or affecting someone or something, often implying a burden or responsibility.

occur to

Suggests an event or idea coming to mind or happening in a less forceful manner.

overtake

Implies something surpassing or overwhelming someone or something, often suddenly.

afflict

Specifically suggests a cause of persistent pain or distress.

descend upon

Suggests a sudden and often overwhelming arrival or occurrence.

light upon

Indicates discovering or encountering something unexpectedly, often positive.

be visited by

Suggests an experience, often negative, being imposed by an external force.

become subject to

Implies a state of being affected or controlled by something.

experience

A general term for undergoing or encountering something.

FAQs

What does "befall upon" mean?

The phrase "befall upon" means to happen to someone or something, often unexpectedly or as a matter of chance, and usually carries a negative connotation.

Is it better to use "befall upon" or "happen to"?

While "befall upon" is grammatically correct, "happen to" is generally more common and widely understood, making it a safer choice for most contexts.

Can "befall upon" be used in a positive context?

While technically possible, "befall upon" typically implies something negative or unfortunate happening. Using it in a positive context might sound unusual or ironic.

What are some alternatives to "befall upon" that also suggest a negative event?

Alternatives like "fall upon", "overtake", or "afflict" can convey a similar sense of something negative happening to someone or something.