Synonyms of happening

happening 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in fashionable

being in the latest or current fashion

those are some happening duds, man

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fashionable
• stylish
• exclusive
• in
• chic
• swell
• hip
• smart
• fresh
• trendy
• a la mode
• cool
• elegant
• voguish
• swish
• supercool
• downtown
• modish
• au courant
• à la mode
• sophisticated
• graceful
• haute
• sharp
• handsome
• snappy
• haut
• funky
• dashing
• edgy
• posh
• ritzy
• swanky
• saucy
• swank
• classy
• spiffy
• dapper
• dressy
• spruce
• majestic
• sassy
• tasteful
• natty
• kicky
• chichi
• rakish
• doggy
• understated
• ultrahip
• flashy
• dudish
• ultrasmart
• gallant
• nobby
• doggish
• flossy
• ultraposh
• ultrasophisticated
• soignée
• refined
• stately
• soigné
• foppish
• ultrachic
• dandyish
• ultracool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• out
• outmoded
• unfashionable
• unbecoming
• uncool
• unattractive
• tacky
• dowdy
• cheesy
• messy
• unmodish
• trashy
• sloppy
• untidy
• tasteless
• inelegant
• unchic
• unkempt
• slovenly
• unstylish
• graceless
• styleless
• wrinkled
• disheveled
• shabby
• dishevelled
• unhandsome
• rumpled
• sleazy
• frowzy
• frowsy
• mussy

2

as in buzzing

marked by much life, movement, or activity

the downtown theater district is a happening place this autumn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• busy
• thriving
• vibrant
• crowded
• humming
• lively
• populous
• bustling
• alive
• abuzz
• flourishing
• stirring
• kinetic
• brisk
• abubble
• hopping
• animated
• astir
• rousing
• swarming
• overflowing
• aboil
• teeming
• abounding
• thronging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• inactive
• sleepy
• lifeless
• asleep

3

as in popular

enjoying widespread favor or approval

that might be a happening outfit right now, but not on a woman who'll never see 40 again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fashionable
• popular
• favorite
• popularized
• in
• pop
• large
• big
• hot
• desirable
• vogue
• famous
• du jour
• faddish
• red-hot
• celebrated
• faddy
• preferred
• voguish
• important
• prominent
• fabulous
• selected
• modish
• legendary
• crowd-pleasing
• notorious
• liked
• famed
• wanted
• renowned
• leading
• remarkable
• notable
• noted
• outstanding
• fabled
• significant
• semipopular
• well-known

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• out
• unpopular
• rejected
• unfashionable
• unimportant
• insignificant
• disliked
• unknown
• hated
• despised
• detested
• obscure
• unexceptional
• washed-up
• anonymous
• inconspicuous
• indistinguished
• nameless

happening

2 of 3

noun

ˈhap-niŋ 

1

as in experience

an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand

the President's visit to the school was a real happening for teachers and students alike

Synonyms & Similar Words

• experience
• adventure
• time
• ordeal
• doing
• exploit
• gest
• geste
• act
• emprise
• episode
• deed
• action
• escapade
• feat
• test
• mission
• occasion
• exploration
• venture
• risk
• performance
• lark
• ploy
• baptism
• expedition
• stunt
• trial
• tribulation
• enterprise
• quest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bore
• drag
• bust
• downer
• bummer

2

as in event

something that happens

gave a detailed account of all the happenings of the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• event
• thing
• incident
• circumstance
• occurrence
• episode
• occasion
• time
• affair
• accident
• experience
• phenomenon
• coincidence
• hap
• page
• news
• turning point
• adventure
• crisis
• fluke
• milestone
• landmark
• emergency
• freak
• juncture
• happenstance
• achievement
• deed
• happenchance
• feat
• exploit
• co-occurrence
• tidings
• milepost

happening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of happen

as in occurring

to take place

did anything exciting happen over the summer?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• occurring
• coming
• being
• doing
• transpiring
• passing
• happing
• coming down
• proceeding
• cooking
• going on
• coming off
• coming about
• befalling
• going down
• materializing
• arising
• coming to pass
• betiding
• chancing
• rising
• resulting
• developing
• shaping (up)
• intervening
• following
• breaking
• coming up
• springing (up)
• cropping (up)
• falling out
• turning out
• going off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of happening

Adjective

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

Noun

The first Saturday was more of a happening than a class, to be honest. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2025

Here, operators can oversee multiple trucks, ensuring safe operation and handling any unexpected happenings on the road. —Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025

Verb

As companies begin to pull back on orders, which is happening already amid the uncertainty related to overseas manufacturing costs and domestic consumer demand, lower supply will potentially serve as a force sending prices higher. —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025

The most significant innovation in labor may now be happening in the shift economy—in hospitals, retail stores, and restaurants—among workers who never had the option to work from home. —Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025