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Synonyms

event

American  
[ih-vent] / ɪˈvɛnt /

noun

  1. something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance.

    Synonyms:
    circumstance, case, affair, happening
  2. the outcome, issue, or result of anything.

    The venture had no successful event.

    Synonyms:
    consequence
  3. something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time.

  4. Physics. in relativity, an occurrence that is sharply localized at a single point in space and instant of time.

  5. 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

  1. in the event of, if there should be.

    In the event of rain, the party will be held indoors.

  2. in any event, regardless of what happens; in any case. Also at all events.

  3. 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.

event British  
/ ɪˈvɛnt /

noun

  1. anything that takes place or happens, esp something important; happening; incident

  2. the actual or final outcome; result (esp in the phrases in the event, after the event )

  3. any one contest in a programme of sporting or other contests

    the high jump is his event

  4. 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 agency Compare act

  5. regardless of circumstances; in any case

  6. in case of; if (such a thing) happens

    in the event of rain the race will be cancelled

  7. if it should happen that

"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

verb

  1. to take part or ride (a horse) in eventing

"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
event More Idioms  
  1. see blessed event; in any case (event); in case (in the event); in the unlikely event.


Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

  • eventless adjective
  • superevent noun

Etymology

Origin of event

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin ēventus “occurrence, outcome,” equivalent to ēven(īre) “to come out, fall out, occur” + -tus suffix of verbal action

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The proposals included a two-storey "subterranean suite" beneath the No 10 garden, featuring a 200-seat conference room that could double as a "safe haven" in the event of a terror attack.

From BBC

October's shocking events in Tanzania offer a snapshot of some of the tensions which have shaped a difficult year for African politics.

From BBC

The Alexandra Palace crowd were more on the side of Cross, who won the event in 2018, in the hope of a spectacle and match for the ages.

From BBC

As the university’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity explains: “This language template is spoken by UW leadership during events to acknowledge that our campus sits on occupied land.”

From The Wall Street Journal

After that it became an event, not a gathering.

From The Wall Street Journal