befall
gb/bɪfˈɔl/ us/bɪfˈɔl/
C1
Inglês
~ 8500
ér, sújt
VERBO
C1
FORMAL
1
Padrão de uso:
for [something bad] to befall [someone/something]
The report describes the terrible fate that befell the prisoners during the war.
A jelentés leírja azt a szörnyű sorsot, amely a háború alatt a foglyokat sújtotta.
No one could have predicted the disaster that would befall the small island nation.
Senki sem láthatta előre azt a katasztrófát, amely később a kis szigetországot sújtotta.
We must prepare for whatever may befall our community in the coming years.
A string of misfortunes befell the family after they lost their home.
Such cruelty should never be allowed to befall innocent children.
Exemplos para aprendentes
The book tells of the dangers that befall the hero on his journey.
A könyv azokról a veszélyekről mesél, amelyek útja során a hőst érik.
Many problems can befall a company that spends too much money.
Sok probléma érhet egy olyan vállalatot, amely túl sok pénzt költ.
No one knows what will befall us in the future.
A great sadness befell the town after the fire.
They tried to stop any harm from befalling the animals.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "befall" for good events (e.g., *"Good luck befell him"*). While grammatically possible, in modern English "befall" is almost always used for bad or unfortunate events. Learners also sometimes say *"befall to someone"*; the normal pattern is "befall someone" without a preposition.
Significado
happen to someone, usually bad
Colocações
tragedy befalls [someone]
|disaster befalls [a place]
|misfortune befalls [someone]
|illness befalls [someone]
|such suffering befalls [people]
|what may befall [them]
Sinónimos
happen (to) (More common and neutral in tone; does not usually suggest that the event is bad or dramatic the way "befall" does.)
|
overtake (Often used for bad situations or emotions suddenly affecting someone, slightly literary and less formal than "befall".)
|
strike (Common in news style for sudden bad events affecting people or places, a bit more vivid and direct than "befall".)
Antónimos
spare (Used when something bad does not happen to someone or something; the person or thing is not affected by the misfortune.)
|
avoid (Focuses on successfully keeping a bad event from happening to someone or something.)
Temas
emotions
|problems
|news
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definição
To happen to a person or thing, usually as something bad or unlucky.
To happen to someone or something, especially as an unpleasant or harmful event.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
befall
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔl/
US/bɪfˈɔl/
Sílabas e acento
be - fall (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fall)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: befall
- 3rd Person Singular: befalls
- Present Participle: befalling
- Past: befell
- Past Participle: befallen
Família de palavras
Forms
befalls
verb
befalling
verb
befell
verb
befallen
verb
Core family
fall
verb A1
Related words
downfall
noun B2
Destaques
- Irregular past: befell Verb
- Irregular past participle: befallen Verb
Expressões
should anything befall someone
1/ʃˈʊd ˈɛniθˌɪŋ bɪfˈɔl sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
formal
if something bad happens to someone
Used to talk about what will happen if something bad happens to a person in the future.
Exemplos
- I have left you my lawyer’s number, should anything befall me during the trip.
- She wrote a letter to be opened by her children, should anything befall her.
- The document explains who will care for the business should anything befall the owner.
whatever may befall
1/wˌʌtˈɛvɚ mˈeɪ bɪfˈɔl/
fixed phrase
literary
no matter what happens
Used to say that something will stay the same, even if any kind of event happens in the future, usually including bad events.
Exemplos
- She promised to stand by him, whatever may befall.
- We must stay calm and united, whatever may befall in the coming years.
- He faced the journey with courage, whatever may befall along the way.