happening

American  

[hap-uh-ning] / ˈhæp ə nɪŋ /

noun

happenings plural

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.

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happening British  

/ ˈhæpənɪŋ, ˈhæpnɪŋ /

noun

1. an occurrence; event

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

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adjective

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• happenings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of happening

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

Example Sentences

And it struck me that we have so little visibility into those small acts of resistance that might be happening now.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026

The Bank also looks closely at what is happening to wages and unemployment.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

“He was like, ‘I just wanna hear music at all times because a festival is happening.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Not because nothing was happening, but because everything was.

From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026

She also usually messages me all day, but she’s been quiet, and I’m scared because I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’m sure that something’s wrong.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• accident
• adventure
• circumstance
• incident
• milestone
• phenomenon
• proceeding