befall

/bɪˈfɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈfɔːl/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈfȯl bē-/ (ame, mw)

befall — verb

  • befallpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • befallshe / she / it
  • befellpast simple
  • befallenpast participle
  • befalling-ing form

1. if trouble, danger, or another unwanted event befalls a person or place, it come

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

if trouble, danger, or another unwanted event befalls a person or place, it comes upon them and affects them.

例句

After the crash, more trouble befell Noor's family that same winter.

something bad befalls someone

A strange illness befell Alessia on the train to Tainan.

同義詞
  • happen to

    neutral everyday alternative; much more common in speech

  • strike

    stresses a sudden blow, especially with disasters or tragedy

  • overtake

    formal; suggests trouble catching up with someone over time

文法句型

something bad befalls someone

what befell + person/place/group

用法筆記

Usually used with a bad event as the subject and a person, group, or place as the object. It sounds formal and often appears in historical, religious, or dramatic writing rather than everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌A happy surprise befell us at the party.
✅A happy surprise happened to us at the party.
💡'befall' is mainly used for unwanted or serious events, not cheerful ones.
❌A storm befell last night.
✅A storm befell the fishing town last night.
💡this verb normally states who suffered the bad event.