Happenstance
noun
A random event or occurrence that is not planned or intended.
He met his childhood friend at the supermarket, but it was pure happenstance as neither of them planned it.
Often appears as...
- pure happenstance
- sheer happenstance
noun
A random event or occurrence that is not planned or intended.
He met his childhood friend at the supermarket, but it was pure happenstance as neither of them planned it.
Often appears as...
- pure happenstance
- sheer happenstance
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Unplanned Encounter
Happenstance often refers to unexpected meetings with people.
Running into my teacher at the concert was happenstance.
Pro Tip 2/3No Control
Happenstance emphasizes events outside of one's control or influence.
Finding a $20 bill on the street was pure happenstance.
Pro Tip 3/3Serendipitous Tone
Happenstance can imply a fortunate and happy coincidence.
Discovering her talent for painting was just happenstance.
Pro Tip 1/3Unplanned Encounter
Happenstance often refers to unexpected meetings with people.
Running into my teacher at the concert was happenstance.
Pro Tip 2/3No Control
Happenstance emphasizes events outside of one's control or influence.
Finding a $20 bill on the street was pure happenstance.
Pro Tip 3/3Serendipitous Tone
Happenstance can imply a fortunate and happy coincidence.
Discovering her talent for painting was just happenstance.
Pro Tip 1/3Unplanned Encounter
Happenstance often refers to unexpected meetings with people.
Running into my teacher at the concert was happenstance.
Pro Tip 2/3No Control
Happenstance emphasizes events outside of one's control or influence.
Finding a $20 bill on the street was pure happenstance.
Pro Tip 3/3Serendipitous Tone
Happenstance can imply a fortunate and happy coincidence.
Discovering her talent for painting was just happenstance.
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Video examples
Andrea Marshall: Queen...
to take photographs of but as an animal that had been overlooked that needed scientific attention my attention and as happenstance would have it I had been doing exploratory diving off the very remote and undeveloped coastline of Mozambique and wow what an awesome time of my life you know diving places that maybe no one had ever
Video examples
The extraordinary lives...
Amazon when we actually looked at the evolution of relationships of that species everything in yellow in that evolutionary tree is in fact the leech that feeds on the mucous membranes of mammals this isn't a happenstance thing it's been going on for millions of years
Video examples
How your brain decides...
to depict someone of villainous character. We need to understand these kinds of implicit biases if we are to overcome them and aim for a society in which we treat people fairly, based on their behavior and not on the happenstance of their looks.
Video examples
Andrea Marshall: Queen...
to take photographs of but as an animal that had been overlooked that needed scientific attention my attention and as happenstance would have it I had been doing exploratory diving off the very remote and undeveloped coastline of Mozambique and wow what an awesome time of my life you know diving places that maybe no one had ever
Video examples
The extraordinary lives...
Amazon when we actually looked at the evolution of relationships of that species everything in yellow in that evolutionary tree is in fact the leech that feeds on the mucous membranes of mammals this isn't a happenstance thing it's been going on for millions of years
Video examples
How your brain decides...
to depict someone of villainous character. We need to understand these kinds of implicit biases if we are to overcome them and aim for a society in which we treat people fairly, based on their behavior and not on the happenstance of their looks.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Ellen Gallagher
American Artist
My work is on the one hand laboured, and on the other completely happenstance and intuitive. But that's the swish in the work, I think. It's really important to me that the work isn't just sitting on top of something, that the materials are woven together - that they are recognisable and from the world.
Quote examples
Howard Jacobson
British Novelist
As for 'Great Expectations', it is up there for me with the world's greatest novels, not least as it vindicates plot as no other novel I can think of does, since what there is to find out is not coincidence or happenstance but the profoundest moral truth.
Quote examples
Greil Marcus
American Author
Perhaps the most pernicious strain of contemporary criticism says one thing before it says anything else, says it to whatever historical event or cultural happenstance is supposedly at issue: 'You can't fool me.
Quote examples
Karen Finerman
American Businesswoman
Serendipity is nice, but hoping for luck and the magic of happenstance shouldn't be an excuse for a lack of proactivity. I had to learn for myself that waiting isn't a life plan.
Quote examples
Norman Lloyd
American Actor
I'm very proud of the people with whom I've worked. It's an amazing collection that just by happenstance happened.
Quote examples
Rowan Atkinson
English Comedian
The older you get, the more you realise how happenstance... has helped to determine your path through life.
Quote examples
Richard Linklater
American Director
It's luck that one thing works out and one doesn't, it's sort of happenstance.
Quote examples
Ian Fleming
British Author
Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.
Quote examples
Sunita Williams
American Astronaut
Becoming an astronaut was a little bit of happenstance for me.
Quote examples
Penelope Lively
English Author
We make choices but are constantly foiled by happenstance.
Quote examples
Ellen Gallagher
American Artist
My work is on the one hand laboured, and on the other completely happenstance and intuitive. But that's the swish in the work, I think. It's really important to me that the work isn't just sitting on top of something, that the materials are woven together - that they are recognisable and from the world.
Quote examples
Howard Jacobson
British Novelist
As for 'Great Expectations', it is up there for me with the world's greatest novels, not least as it vindicates plot as no other novel I can think of does, since what there is to find out is not coincidence or happenstance but the profoundest moral truth.
Quote examples
Greil Marcus
American Author
Perhaps the most pernicious strain of contemporary criticism says one thing before it says anything else, says it to whatever historical event or cultural happenstance is supposedly at issue: 'You can't fool me.
Quote examples
Karen Finerman
American Businesswoman
Serendipity is nice, but hoping for luck and the magic of happenstance shouldn't be an excuse for a lack of proactivity. I had to learn for myself that waiting isn't a life plan.
Quote examples
Norman Lloyd
American Actor
I'm very proud of the people with whom I've worked. It's an amazing collection that just by happenstance happened.
Quote examples
Rowan Atkinson
English Comedian
The older you get, the more you realise how happenstance... has helped to determine your path through life.
Quote examples
Richard Linklater
American Director
It's luck that one thing works out and one doesn't, it's sort of happenstance.
Quote examples
Ian Fleming
British Author
Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.
Quote examples
Sunita Williams
American Astronaut
Becoming an astronaut was a little bit of happenstance for me.
Quote examples
Penelope Lively
English Author
We make choices but are constantly foiled by happenstance.
Example 1 of 10
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