Showing results for "happening"

• present participle of happen.

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

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Etymology

Origin of happening

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

happening happenings

“It’s really important some of the cases they’re bringing to the show — real things that are happening to real people.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

There is a simple reason this may be happening: High yields eventually become the cure for high yields.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

More job cuts and A.I. demands are expected, and the wholesale absorption of Hulu’s app into the Disney+ interface is still happening.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

"A lot of positive things are happening, but there are a lot of new areas that we haven't tried before," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

A warm feeling came over me, like something familiar was happening.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

But rest assured, we’ll be back in your inbox with more wild happenings on Monday.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Southern California natives are sure to shake hands after games and discuss happenings back home while never forgetting that “Winter is Coming.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

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

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

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Related Words

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

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