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

But the fact that this is happening while a significant share of index members move in the opposite direction is unprecedented going back to at least 1990, according to Bespoke.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

The couple described the atmosphere inside the stadium as sombre and almost completely silent as spectators waited to understand what was happening.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

The event, known as the Great Dimming, raised questions about what was happening inside the aging star.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

Fights over the placement of high-voltage transmission lines are happening across the U.S. as utilities embark on what they expect to be a generational investment in the grid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

She complains a little, but she seems to realize that something bad is happening.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 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

David Lindsay-Abaire sets his comic sights on the contentious happenings within a wealthy suburb’s neighborhood association in a new play directed by Kenny Leon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Then again, it’s all too easy to be distracted from the desultory happenings on stage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

It is important to remember this in connection with recent happenings.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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Related Words

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

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