DictionaryAI

happening

HAP-uh-ning/ˈhæpɪnɪŋ/

Noun pluralhappenings

4 meanings of happening

Practice

  1. 1
    taking placeverb
    Present participle of happen.

    A lot is happening downtown this weekend.

    She asked what was happening at the meeting.

    UsageWhat is happening, not incorrect: what is happened: happen takes no object, so it has no passive.

    Note

    The -ing form of a verb that takes no object in its everyday meaning. As a gerund it keeps the chance sense with an infinitive: his happening to be there saved the day. The informal meaning "becoming popular" sits close to the slang adjective for lively places.

  2. 2
    eventnouncountable
    An occurrence; an event that takes place or comes about.

    A curious happening interrupted the otherwise quiet afternoon.

    Reporters tried to record the day's happenings at the summit.

    UsageOften happenings, for a run of events: the day's happenings, strange happenings.

    Similarevent, occurrence, incident, episode, occasion

  3. 3
    trendyadjectiveslang
    Lively, exciting and fashionable; where the latest things are going on.

    Like the one street in town where all the energy seems to gather.

    The bar was the most happening place in town that summer.

    She wanted to live somewhere lively and happening.

    UsageUsually before a noun and often compared: the most happening place in town, a happening club.

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    improvised shownouncountable
    An experimental artistic performance or event, often involving improvisation and audience participation.

    The gallery hosted a happening where visitors became part of the artwork.

    The art students turned the empty parking lot into a happening, handing out paint and inviting anyone walking by to join in.

    Note

    An art-world term before it became a broader cultural one. Performance art took the ordinary noun for an event and made it the name of a genre, a use Allan Kaprow popularized in 1959. Such a piece may be scripted, and the audience often becomes part of the work. Decades later a Television Personalities song applied the word to Salvador Dali's garden party, using it for any theatrical, offbeat gathering.

happening is a form of happen

happen, verb: To take place or come about as an event. Full entry

Forms
happenhappens he/she/ithappening -ing formhappened past tense, past participle
Spelling
happen → happening: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of happening apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 3

From Middle English *happenynge, formed from the verb "happen" plus the suffix "-ing".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meanings 2, 4

Formed from "happen" plus "-ing". As a term in performance art it was popularized by Allan Kaprow.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts