transpire

American  

[tran-spahyuhr] / trænˈspaɪər /

verb (used without object)

transpired, transpiring

1. to occur; happen; take place.

2. to emit or give off waste matter, watery vapor, etc., through the surface, as of the body or of leaves.

3. to escape, as moisture or odor, through or as if through pores.

4. to be revealed or become known.

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verb (used with object)

transpired, transpiring

1. to emit or give off (waste matter, watery vapor, an odor, etc.) through the surface, as of the body or of leaves.

transpire British  

/ ˌtrænspəˈreɪʃən, trænˈspaɪə /

verb

1. (intr) to come to light; be known

2. informal (intr) to happen or occur

3. physiol to give off or exhale (water or vapour) through the skin, a mucous membrane, etc

4. (of plants) to lose (water in the form of water vapour), esp through the stomata of the leaves

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Usage

It is often maintained that transpire should not be used to mean happen or occur, as in the event transpired late in the evening , and that the word is properly used to mean become known, as in it transpired later that the thief had been caught . The word is, however, widely used in the former sense, esp in spoken English

Other Word Forms

• transpirable
  adjective
• transpiration
  noun
• transpiratory
  adjective
• untranspiring
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of transpire

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French transpirer, from Medieval Latin trānspīrāre, equivalent to Latin trāns- trans- + spīrāre “to breathe”

Explanation

Transpire is a fancy way of saying "happen." You might go to a fortune teller to find out what will transpire in the future. Originally used to express when information became known or came to light, many purists will tell you that's really the best way to use transpire. It can also mean releasing vapor into the air, like when a plant transpires water through its leaves on a hot day. Note: you'll usually encounter this word in its past tense: for example, "We had to watch the replay to figure out what had transpired."

Example Sentences

While major chip makers have some helium supply in reserve, there’s some uncertainty about what would transpire if the conflict were to drag on and disrupt helium production over a longer span.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

Venezuelan journalist Ronna Rísquez Sánchez said it is unclear whether Maduro actually directs illicit activities conducted by his military or simply allows it to transpire among his government.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

An ordinary illustrator might have dramatized the scene at ground level; St. John literally elevates his image by having the conflict transpire in midair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

How that will transpire is unclear, but it yet again raises the prospect of disagreement, vetoes and stand-off.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

Science was moving from a world of macrophysics, where objects could be seen and held and measured, to one of microphysics, where events transpire with unimaginable swiftness on scales far below the limits of imagining.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• arise
• befall
• ensue