1
a
: something that happens : occurrence
b
: a noteworthy happening
c
: a social occasion or activity
d
: an adverse or damaging medical occurrence
a heart attack or other cardiac event
2
: any of the contests in a program of sports
3
a
: a postulated outcome, condition, or eventuality
in the event that I am not there, call the house
b
: the final outcome or determination of a legal action
c
archaic : outcome
4
: the fundamental entity of observed physical reality represented by a point designated by three coordinates of place and one of time in the space-time continuum postulated by the theory of relativity
5
: a subset of the possible outcomes of an experiment
eventless adjective
Phrases
at all events
: in any case
in any event
: in any case
in the event
chiefly British
: as it turns out
Choose the Right Synonym for event

occurrence, event, incident, episode, circumstance mean something that happens or takes place.

occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

Examples of event in a Sentence

The article recounted the events of the past year. the last major event of the summer He had no memory of the events that happened afterwards. The accident was caused by an unusual sequence of events. She likes to arrive at social events early. It's the only event on the golf tour that she hasn't yet won.
Recent Examples on the Web This year’s event takes placeat the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, March 24, and will be taped to premiere on Netflix on Saturday, May 11 — as the Netflix is a Joke Fest takes place in Los Angeles. Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 This year, city officials said, hotel room renovations, elevator upgrades, repair of the ship’s third smokestack and an expansion of the Sun Deck, which is used for special events such as weddings, are planned. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Here’s how it is supposed to tie into this celestial event: The grains used in the mashbill are midnight wheat from New Zealand and white corn from Texas, which are supposed to represent the moon blocking out the sun. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Starring alongside the impressive stunt team in The Fall Guy are Hannah Waddingham as a movie producer, Winston Duke as a stunt coordinator, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a cocky leading man — who disappears, setting off the events of the story — and Stephanie Hsu as his beleaguered assistant. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Founded three years ago and financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf has attracted many of the world’s top players with the promise of more pay across fewer events. George Ramsay, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 National Gallery Nights: ‘Color Theory’ The first after-hours event of the spring season is coming up at the National Gallery of Art, and National Gallery Nights have become so popular that free tickets are passed out via online lottery. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Many people wrongly see elections as synonymous with democracy because the same word is used to refer to wildly different events. Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 Keep reading to find out how to watch both NCAA March Madness Selection Sunday events with and without a cable subscription, including more details on how to watch for free. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin eventus, from evenire to happen, from e- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 3c

Time Traveler
The first known use of event was in 1539

Dictionary Entries Near event

Cite this Entry

“Event.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/event. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

event

noun
1
a
: something usually of importance that happens
b
: a social occasion or activity (as a party)
2
: eventuality
in the event of rain the ceremony will be held indoors
3
: any of the contests in a program of sports
track-and-field events
4
: a possible result in an experiment in probability or statistics
rolling a 7 is an event in the throwing of two dice

Medical Definition

event

noun
: an adverse or damaging medical occurrence
a heart attack or other cardiac event

Legal Definition

event

noun
1
: something that happens : occurrence
2
: the issue or outcome of a legal action or proceeding as finally determined

More from Merriam-Webster on event

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