hap

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈhap 

1

: happening sense 1

2

: chance, fortune

hap

2 of 4

verb (1)

happed; happing

intransitive verb

: happen

hap

3 of 4

verb (2)

happed; happing

transitive verb

dialect

: clothe, cover

hap

4 of 4

noun (2)

dialect

: something (such as a bed quilt or cloak) that serves as a covering or wrap

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• affair
• circumstance
• episode
• event
• happening
• incident
• occasion
• occurrence
• thing

Verb (1)

• be
• befall
• betide
• chance
• come
• come about
• come down
• come off
• cook
• do
• go down [slang]
• go on
• happen
• occur
• pass
• transpire

Noun (2)

• bedcover
• bedcovering
• bedspread
• counterpane
• coverlet
• spread

Examples of hap in a Sentence

Noun (1)

we must make the best of both the good and the bad haps of life

by hap and circumstance, he ended up as a cartoonist in New York

Verb (1)

what wondrous events hath happed this Christmas Day?

Noun (2)

the hap was a patchwork quilt that the old woman had made herself

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The company didn’t appear close to understanding the nature of the universe, but per haps that’s coming. —Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old Norse happ good luck; akin to Old English gehæp suitable, Old Church Slavic kobĭ lot, fate

Verb (2)

Middle English happen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1593, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hap

1 of 2 noun

ˈhap 

1

: something that happens : occurrence

2

: something that happens unexpectedly without intention or observable cause : chance, fortune

hap

2 of 2 verb

happed; happing

1

: happen sense 3

2

: happen sense 4a