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happening

happening

19 3.4
An event that is unusual or important
  • noun
  • /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
translation icon : acontecimiento
  • Local happenings such as art exhibitions and music festivals often attract many visitors.
  • events and happenings
  • recent happenings
  • local happenings

I'll thank it for that happening at that time.

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Examples

  • Emergent literacy is a process consisting of a series of happenings that produce gradual changes.

    Academic text (1991)
  • We host quarterly web meetings to discuss ideas and report happenings around the country.

    Academic text (2015)
  • You see, our streets are no longer safe at night, what with all these happenings.

  • What were three of the most important happenings or events that occurred within our field during your career?

    Academic text (2013)
  • I keep up with the latest, greatest library happenings around the country, but I carefully implement new ideas.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Master, I cannot pretend to grasp the meaning of these strange happenings.

  • There is no doubt that faith has the power to aid us in persevering through great challenges and everyday happenings.

  • Now either of these happenings is a milestone in a man's life.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Teaching about world, national, state, and local happenings needs to involve active, participative learning rather than passive learning.

    Academic text (1995)
  • As Lee's curiosity about the happenings on his property began to grow, the strangeness of what he was dealing with followed suit.

Synonyms

thing
vshappening
1.0

An action someone does or an event that happens

is more specific, used when the situation is notable or unusually important
event
vshappening
1.0

A planned or important thing that happens at a particular time and place

focuses more on being notable or unusual rather than time and place
incident
vshappening
2.7

An event that is unusual or draws attention

is used for notable or unusual situations in general, not only sudden attention grabbing ones
occurrence
vshappening
116 3.6

Something that happens, often an event or incident

applies when a case is considered notable or unusual rather than merely neutral
goings-on
vshappening
  • UK
14 4.1

Things that happen, often unusual, secret, or maybe dishonest

is used for one notable or unusual case, not ongoing secret activities
happenin'
vshappening
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A lively event that many people want to go to

is the neutral term used for significant or unusual situations rather than informal fun
occurrent
vshappening
  • Specialized
9.9

An event or thing that happens

serves in everyday use to stress significance and general meaning rather than technical tone
eventuation
vshappening
  • Formal
9.8

A result of something happening

refers to a single notable case itself, not the ongoing process or result

How Significant

phenomenon
58 7.2
milestone
103 3.2
happening
19 3.4
incident
2.7
event
1.0
occurrence
116 3.6

Surface Forms

happening singular
happenings plural

Morphology

happening = happen (transparent) = happen + ing

A regular nominalization from the verb 'happen' using '-ing' producing 'an event', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word happening comes from the verb happen and the ending -ing. Happen once meant 'to occur' or 'to come by chance', from an old Norse word for 'chance'. So, a happening is an event — something that 'happens', often surprising or worth noticing.