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Synonyms

happening

American  
[hap-uh-ning] / ˈhæp ə nɪŋ /

noun

  1. something that happens; occurrence; event.

    Synonyms:
    case, affair, instance, episode, incident

  2. an unconventional dramatic or artistically orchestrated performance, often a series of discontinuous events involving audience participation.

  3. any event considered worthwhile, unusual, or interesting.

happening British  
/ ˈhæpənɪŋ, ˈhæpnɪŋ /

noun

  1. an occurrence; event

  2. an improvised or spontaneous display or performance consisting of bizarre and haphazard events

"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

adjective

  1. informal fashionable and up-to-the-minute

"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

Etymology

Origin of happening

First recorded in 1545–55; 1965–70 happening for def. 2; happen + -ing 1

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.

“We want to invest in building a really great company that doesn’t really matter what’s happening in the macroeconomic environment.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

There's too many of these accidents happening now.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

That’s exactly what is happening right now to Abigail Spanberger.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

“Everything that’s happening in the Middle East. I’m seeing prices rise at the supermarket. And of course we have this constant thread of AI data-centers being built.”

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Whatever was happening with Anna May, Frances seemed to understand.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.