- present participle of happen.
happening
Americannoun
noun
-
an occurrence; event
-
an improvised or spontaneous display or performance consisting of bizarre and haphazard events
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“That’s a reflection of what’s happening in the stock market,” Alvarado at Wells said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Stiles' son stressed to the hearing that "this wasn't forced upon them but they obviously didn't know what was happening".
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Our city prioritizes the use of surveillance as a means of safety, but that is not what’s happening in our schools in our streets,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Macklem said there were indications that was happening, pointing to aluminum, a key Canadian sector facing punishing Trump tariffs, where businesses are "finding new customers in Europe."
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Edda?” the voice asks for a third time as I finally begin to settle enough to process what is happening.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard and more star in an eight-part series about a retirement community beset by strange happenings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
The litigation unveiled the private happenings of Hollywood elite, including texts and emails from Lively, Baldoni and their host of A-list friends.
From BBC ● May 4, 2026
They’re all free “drop-in” happenings, with no registration required.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra, Yorgos Lanthimos’ photography exhibition, Nicholas Pilapil’s new play and more arts headlines and happenings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
Follow the tales of witches and goblins, and unexplained happenings.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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.
