happen
verb (used without object)
to take place; come to pass; occur.
have been happening
-
present perfect progressiveof happen.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Residents say the worst drop-offs have been happening closest to the seat of Russian power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
But lately, those recoveries have been happening more quickly.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2025
But that’s where the lawsuit was brought because that’s where the bulk of these ICE actions have been happening, and immigrants are just deeply, deeply connected to the community here.
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2025
At the same time, “I’m very upset when it comes to the situations that have been happening at the moment,” she said, referring to raids by U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2025
And, crucially, it showed in the fullest detail yet just what really may have been happening inside Reggie’s mind on the morning of September 22, 2006.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
