The difference between Happen and Occur
When used as verbs, happen means to occur or take place, whereas occur means to happen or take place.
Happen is also adverb with the meaning: maybe, perhaps.
check bellow for the other definitions of Happen and Occur
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Happen as a verb (intransitive):
To occur or take place.
Examples:
"Let me tell you how it happened."
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Happen as a verb (transitive, archaic):
To happen to; to befall.
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Happen as a verb (intransitive, _, or, _, impersonal, with infinitive):
To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
Examples:
"Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain."
"Do you happen to have an umbrella?"
"I happened to get wet."
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Happen as a verb (followed by, _, {{m, on):
or }} To encounter by chance.
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Happen as an adverb:
maybe, perhaps.
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Occur as a verb (intransitive):
To happen or take place.
Examples:
"The liftoff will occur in exactly twelve seconds."
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Occur as a verb (intransitive):
To present or offer itself.
Examples:
"I will write if the opportunity occurs."
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Occur as a verb (impersonal):
To come or be presented to the mind; to suggest itself.
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Occur as a verb (intransitive, sciences):
To be present or found.
Examples:
"The chemical monofluoroacetate occurs in all parts of ''Dichapetalum cymosum'', and is responsible for its toxic effects."