event

[ih-vent]

See more synonyms for event on Thesaurus.com

noun

something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance.
the outcome, issue, or result of anything: The venture had no successful event.
something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time.

Physics. in relativity, an occurrence that is sharply localized at a single point in space and instant of time.Compare world point.
Sports. any of the contests in a program made up of one sport or of a number of sports: The broad jump event followed the pole vault.

Idioms

in any event, regardless of what happens; in any case.Also at all events.
in the event of, if there should be: In the event of rain, the party will be held indoors.
in the event that, if it should happen that; in case: In the event that I can't come back by seven, you can eat without me.

Origin of event

1560–70; < Latin ēventus occurrence, outcome, equivalent to ēven(īre) to occur, come out + -tus suffix of v. action

Related formse·vent·less, adjectivesu·per·e·vent, noun

Synonyms for event

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. happening, affair, case, circumstance. Event, episode, incident, occurrence are terms for a happening. An event is usually an important happening: historical events. An episode is one of a series of happenings in a person's life or in a narrative: an episode in one's life. An incident is an event of usually minor importance: an amusing incident in a play. An occurrence is something that happens, often by surprise: His arrival was an unexpected occurrence. 2. consequence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for event

affair, crisis, ceremony, story, thing, holiday, development, business, circumstance, incident, situation, celebration, case, accident, episode, appearance, experience, matter, act, action

Examples from the Web for event

Contemporary Examples of event

This event, know as “Turn Around Tuesday,” enraged many of the demonstrators, especially the young SNCC activists.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’
Gary May
January 2, 2015
In fact, Americans had to wait several hours until film of the event reached New York for it to be broadcast.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’
Gary May
January 2, 2015
Then there was an event, an HRC event, and I took a picture with Monique, the actress and comedian.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out
December 24, 2014
Because I was president I had to do the write-up for the event and they chose that picture.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out
December 24, 2014
In the event, the enemy did plenty—far more than SHAEF, or for that matter the German high command, imagined possible.
Hitler’s Hail Mary
James A. Warren
December 20, 2014

Historical Examples of event

I, too, should earnestly rejoice if such an event could be brought about.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
In any event, that is a part with which I have nothing to do.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
The event established Mary as the arbiter in her own coterie.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
There was an enormous complacency in his air over the event.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
This, said Archidamus, was a great error; and the event proved that he was right.
Stories from Thucydides
H. L. Havell

British Dictionary definitions for event

event

noun

anything that takes place or happens, esp something important; happening; incident
the actual or final outcome; result (esp in the phrases in the event, after the event)
any one contest in a programme of sporting or other conteststhe high jump is his event
philosophy
1. an occurrence regarded as a bare instant of space-time as contrasted with an object which fills space and has endurance
2. an occurrence regarded in isolation from, or contrasted with, human agencyCompare act (def. 8)
in any event or at all events regardless of circumstances; in any case
in the event of in case of; if (such a thing) happensin the event of rain the race will be cancelled
in the event that if it should happen that

verb

to take part or ride (a horse) in eventing

Word Origin for event

C16: from Latin ēventus a happening, from ēvenīre to come forth, happen, from venīre to come

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for event

1570s, from Middle French event, from Latin eventus "occurrence, accident, event, fortune, fate, lot, issue," from past participle stem of evenire "to come out, happen, result," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + venire "to come" (see venue). Event horizon in astrophysics is from 1969.

Idioms and Phrases with event

event

see blessed event; in any case (event); in case (in the event); in the unlikely event.