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Synonyms

happening

American  
[hap-uh-ning] / ˈhæp ə nɪŋ /

noun

  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.

happening British  
/ ˈhæpənɪŋ, ˈhæpnɪŋ /

noun

  1. an occurrence; event

  2. an improvised or spontaneous display or performance consisting of bizarre and haphazard events

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. informal fashionable and up-to-the-minute

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Voters do not necessarily blame their devolved government for what has been happening.

From BBC

Indeed, for now at least, the opposite is happening.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I couldn't believe what was happening, and I just remember going straight to the back of the ambulance," he said.

From BBC

"She really does not like what's happening but most of my Northern Irish and Irish friends who live over here are very blasé about the whole thing."

From BBC

"You can hear the interceptions happening in the air."

From BBC

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.