happening

1 of 2

noun

hap·​pen·​ing ˈhap-niŋ How to pronounce happening (audio)
ˈha-pə-
1
: something that happens : occurrence
2
: an event or series of events designed to evoke a spontaneous reaction to sensory, emotional, or spiritual stimuli
3
: something (such as an event) that is particularly interesting, entertaining, or important

happening

2 of 2

adjective

1
: very fashionable : in
a happening hairstyle
2
: offering much stimulating activity
a happening dance club

Examples of happening in a Sentence

Noun the President's visit to the school was a real happening for teachers and students alike gave a detailed account of all the happenings of the weekend Adjective This is quite a happening town on the weekends. those are some happening duds, man
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hollywood has surmised that audiences only want to go to the movies for films that feel less like generic screenings and more like cultural happenings. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Yet many of the planet’s most significant happenings are called events, including mass extinctions, rapid expansions of biodiversity and the filling of Earth’s skies with oxygen 2.1 to 2.4 billion years ago. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The Hollywood Reporter has gathered intel on all the starry happenings around town below. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 Essential happenings Contributor Alison Brower rounds up the essential art fair activity for Frieze Week. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Both Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood are closely monitoring happenings in Miami Beach, which is cracking down this year after previous spring breaks erupted into violence. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Why was this happening, and why was the family not a part of this? Samantha Chery, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Check internal and external happenings (i.e., libraries, schools, and online networks are excellent sources for consideration). Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Directed by Spike Lee, Crooklyn transparently depicts Black girlhood, the everyday life of a 1970s Black family living in Brooklyn, and the happenings of an overburdened Black matriarch. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 16 Feb. 2024
Adjective
While the overarching trend for fall is still lowest maintenance possible, there's a bit more happening than your typical sunny blondes and balayage brunettes. Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2020 What was once a sleepy college town next to a railroad stop is now one of the most happening cities in the state of Texas. Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018 Waco was already a happening place before the Gaines began remodeling homes. Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, 16 Feb. 2018 In any case, these days, the most happening stuff is often happening between the floats. NOLA.com, 1 Feb. 2018 Don’t forget to stop by the Mallmart parking lot after a Friday night football game for the most happening tailgate parties. Jessica MacLeish, Teen Vogue, 23 Jan. 2018 Again in 1921, that very happening year, the poet Manuel Maples Arce plastered Mexico City with broadsheets announcing the birth of a cultural movement. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of happening was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near happening

Cite this Entry

“Happening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happening. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

happening

noun
hap·​pen·​ing
1
: something that happens : occurrence
2
: an event that is especially interesting, entertaining, or important

More from Merriam-Webster on happening

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!