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

“All of this happening so soon is kind of breathless,” he says through yawns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Nelson views the merger as a near certainty, likely happening by the end of 2027.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

What is happening with the Jackdaw and Rosebank gas and oil fields?

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

I think that’s more about the general existential feeling of helplessness in the face of things that are happening in the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

"What is happening?" wailed Val from farther up the path.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

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

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

When the sun vanishes early and the chill of darkness comes on deep and fast, there has always been an instinct to gather around a source of warmth and illumination for tales of fearsome happenings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

He pored over her flowery script as she recounted the happenings of her life.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

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Related Words

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