Word
Definitions
01an occurrence
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that takes place or occurs.
n. an event or occurrence, often used in the plural to describe general events.
“The local newspaper reported on the strange happenings in the village last night.”
“The historian's latest book provides a meticulous account of the daily happenings within the royal court during the summer of 1789.”
Synonyms
02art performance
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Theater Formal
n. a type of art show or event that is spontaneous and often involves the audience.
n. a partly improvised or spontaneous performance or event, typically one involving audience participation.
“The artist organized a happening in the park where strangers were invited to paint together.”
“The 1960s avant-garde movement was defined by the 'happening', a form of performance art that challenged the boundaries between creator and spectator.”
Synonyms
03fashionable or lively
C1 · Advanced Slang · Informal
adj. very busy, exciting, or fashionable.
adj. characterized by lively activity, modern trends, or social excitement.
“This new club is the most happening place in the city right now.”
“The district has transformed from a quiet industrial zone into a happening neighborhood filled with galleries and upscale bistros.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “happening” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Several individual polls have already shown this, but the trend is now clear in poll trackers – datasets using all available published polling to show what is happening with voting intention.” “First OpenAI, now Meta - why do AI hacks keep happening?” “Exoplanets are far too distant to see what is happening on the surface.” “Between 60 and 70 per cent of deaths are happening in communities far from care, a gap that is now central to the World Health Organization's response.” Etymology
From Middle English happenynge, happnynge. By surface analysis, happen + -ing.
From Middle English happenyng, equivalent to happen + -ing. As term used in performance art popularized by Allan Kaprow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/happening
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR