| Library / English Dictionary |
HAPPENING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An event that happens
Synonyms:
happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("happening" is a kind of...):
event (something that happens at a given place and time)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "happening"):
failure (an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose)
success (an event that accomplishes its intended purpose)
appearance (the event of coming into sight)
destiny; fate (an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future)
disappearance (the event of passing out of sight)
disappearance (ceasing to exist)
contact; impinging; striking (the physical coming together of two or more things)
finish (designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race))
collapse (a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in)
break; interruption (some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity)
sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)
union (the occurrence of a uniting of separate parts)
news event (a newsworthy event)
flash (a sudden intense burst of radiant energy)
convergence (the occurrence of two or more things coming together)
juncture; occasion (an event that occurs at a critical time)
burst; flare-up; outburst (a sudden intense happening)
eruption; irruption; outbreak (a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition))
black eye; blow; reversal; reverse; setback (an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating)
bonanza; boom; bunce; godsend; gold rush; gravy; manna from heaven; windfall (a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money))
collapse; crash (a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures))
supervention (a following on in addition)
accompaniment; attendant; co-occurrence; concomitant (an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another)
avalanche (a sudden appearance of an overwhelming number of things)
experience (an event as apprehended)
trouble (an event causing distress or pain)
treat (an occurrence that causes special pleasure or delight)
miracle (any amazing or wonderful occurrence)
marvel; wonder (something that causes feelings of wonder)
thing (an event)
episode (a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events)
contingence; contingency; eventuality (a possible event or occurrence or result)
beginning (the event consisting of the start of something)
conclusion; ending; finish (event whose occurrence ends something)
one-off (a happening that occurs only once and is not repeated)
periodic event; recurrent event (an event that recurs at intervals)
alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)
computer error; error ((computer science) the occurrence of an incorrect result produced by a computer)
accident; chance event; fortuity; stroke (anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause)
fire (the event of something burning (often destructive))
incident (a single distinct event)
discharge (the sudden giving off of energy)
case; example; instance (an occurrence of something)
motion; movement (a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something)
Derivation:
happen (come to pass)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb happen
Context examples:
Happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits, or especially, some surface.
(External, NCI Thesaurus)
A measurement of the total number of instances in which there has been a termination of pregnancy happening before the fetus is able to sustain independent life.
(Number of Abortions, NCI Thesaurus)
An instance of something happening, such as an event or incident.
(Occurrence, NCI Thesaurus)
Well, we’ve lived there fifteen years and no such happenings ever came before.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
A measure of the odds of an event happening in one group compared to the odds of the same event happening in another group.
(Odds ratio, NCI Dictionary)
Today climate changes are happening at an increasingly rapid rate.
(Climate Change, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
This issue is restricted to happening at the location where the device is used as opposed to during manufacturer or shipping.
(Cleaning Disinfecting or Sterilization Problem during Medical Device Use, Food and Drug Administration)
Astronomers thought that these events occurred around three billion years after the Big Bang, so they were surprised when the new observations revealed them happening when the Universe was only half that age!
(Ancient Galaxy Megamergers, ESO)
“Instead of hot and dry summers happening once a decade, these regions with forest converted to cropland experience hot-dry extremes every two to three years.”
(Forests minimize severe heat waves, NOAA)
"These rock movements are happening every second of every day, but are too small for us to see or feel," Moore said.
(Song of the red rock arches, National Science Foundation)
