# befall

> English word · Verb · IPA /bɪˈfɔːl/ · frequency rank #41,010

## Definitions
1. To fall upon; fall all over; overtake.
2. To happen.
3. To happen to.
4. To fall.

## Etymology
From Middle English bifallen, from Old English befeallan, from Proto-West Germanic *bifallan, from Proto-Germanic *bifallaną; equivalent to be- + fall.

## Easily confused with
- **bell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/befall-vs-bell)
- **behalf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/befall-vs-behalf)
- **ball** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ball-vs-befall)
- **beal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beal-vs-befall)

## Common misspellings (7)
`bbefall`, `beafll`, `befal`, `beffall`, `beflal`, `bfeall`, `ebfall`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/befall