- present participle of happen.
happening
Americannoun
-
happenings
plural
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:
A similar transition is happening in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
It’s a conversation happening across the United States.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
When she heard explosions, she ran to her father and asked what was happening, he said, but he did not have the heart to tell her, saying they were fireworks for a wedding.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Something mysterious has been happening in the world of secondhand books.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
I can’t cling to my people because my mother—my main person —is part of the terrible thing happening.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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
This collection of notable happenings, updated every week, will keep you up appraised of ways to join the celebrations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
A very unusual combination of circumstances has so far saved the runs of the Northwest Miramichi from the destruction that was anticipated — a constellation of happenings that might not occur again in a century.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
