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
• cool
• elegant
• voguish
• swish
• supercool
• downtown
• modish
• au courant
• à la mode
• sophisticated
• graceful
• sharp
• haute
• handsome
• snappy
• funky
• dashing
• edgy
• posh
• ritzy
• 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
• 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
• unstylish
• slovenly
• styleless
• graceless
• wrinkled
• disheveled
• shabby
• unhandsome
• rumpled
• sleazy
• 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
• act
• emprise
• episode
• action
• feat
• deed
• escapade
• test
• mission
• occasion
• venture
• exploration
• performance
• risk
• lark
• ploy
• baptism
• expedition
• trial
• tribulation
• enterprise
• quest
• stunt

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

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

In any case, these days, the most happening stuff is often happening between the floats. — NOLA.com, 1 Feb. 2018

Noun

By the late 1960s, Kusama had also turned herself into material, staging happenings, body-painting events, naked demonstrations, and antiwar actions. — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

These strange happenings take the form of a markedly different, often more exciting movie that doesn’t actually cross paths with the mother-daughter drama until quite late into the 92-minute runtime. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

The capacity is there, but nobody ever taught them how to read what’s happening beneath the surface the way high-functioning organizations require. — Dr. Rick Ruperto, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026