To befall means to happen to someone, usually something unfortunate or unexpected. When trouble befalls a character in a story, something bad happens to them without warning. You might read that “a great misfortune befell the kingdom” or hear someone worry about “whatever may befall us on this journey.”

The word carries an old-fashioned, formal feeling, like something from a fairy tale or historical account. You're more likely to see it in books than hear it in everyday conversation. People rarely say “good fortune befell me,” though technically they could. Instead, befall usually describes accidents, disasters, or unwelcome surprises that come upon people unexpectedly.

Notice that things befall people, but people don't befall things. A storm might befall travelers, but travelers don't befall a storm. The word suggests that events happen to you rather than because of anything you did. When someone asks “What befell them?” they're wondering what unfortunate circumstance or event occurred.