1
as in fashionable
being in the latest or current fashion
those are some happening duds, man
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
the downtown theater district is a happening place this autumn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in event
something that happens
gave a detailed account of all the happenings of the weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in occurring
to take place
did anything exciting happen over the summer?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of happening
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
Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Drawing inspiration from the real-life towns of Cassadaga, Florida, and Pilottown, Louisiana, La Cachette is a literal ghost town filled with psychic happenings and unexplained magic deep in the swamp.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
More on what’s happening with Heathcliff and Cathy’s exploits around the world here.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
Belichick holstered his two remaining timeouts, instead fixated on the frantic happenings on the sideline across the way.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Drawing inspiration from the real-life towns of Cassadaga, Florida, and Pilottown, Louisiana, La Cachette is a literal ghost town filled with psychic happenings and unexplained magic deep in the swamp.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Free speech is happening at the Berlinale.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
More on what’s happening with Heathcliff and Cathy’s exploits around the world here.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happening
Adjective
-
Long before land conservation became fashionable among billionaires, Ted Turner was buying ranchland with ecological ambition.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Women were very fashionable in Cairo and never dared go out in raggedy clothes.—
Letters To The Editor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Just off the gondola entrance sits Club Moritzino, one of the Dolomites’ most enduring mountain huts and a buzzing lunch and apres-ski destination.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
From Montana to Colorado, here's where to find great powder, epic skiing, and buzzing après scenes out West.—
Caroline Tell,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Walking and hiking have become hugely popular as Mallorca increasingly leans into its (entirely justifiable) reputation for landscape beauty as well as sun, sea, and sangria.—
Paul Richardson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The Broward school district will no longer cover popular weight-loss medications on its insurance plans, leading to complaints that the district is putting its financial health ahead of employees’ health.—
Scott Travis,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The experience was deliberately walkable and social, mirroring the rhythm of neighborhood festivals rather than retail pop-ups.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Consistent with the rest of the hotel, the local landscape is incorporated into the design experience; there are local gems displayed in the waiting area, and the lobby has a giant window that frames a peak of the nearby Shawangunk Mountains that took my breath away.—
Katie Mathews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Four years later, Bruna Moura finally made it to the start line of an event at the Olympic Games – the qualification race for the Sprint Classic.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Leaders used the event to assess both the drone’s performance and the readiness of troops assigned to fly and manage it.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The colorful, detailed drawings span the full cover, quite different from Elizabeth’s minimalistic but stylish approach.—
Jess deCourcy Hinds
February 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
However, the English Garden has a remarkably roomy and stylish interior that feels more like an apartment than a traditional tiny house.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lately, Chalamet has been busy moving beyond movie promotion and hitting the Oscars campaign trail following his best actor nomination for Marty Supreme.—
Christi Carras,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This can be a place of refuge after a busy day of new experiences or from the bustling pool deck.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happening. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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