event

[ ih-vent ]

noun

1. something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance.

   Synonyms: circumstance, case, affair, happening

2. the outcome, issue, or result of anything:

   The venture had no successful event.

   Synonyms: consequence

3. something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time.
4. Physics. in relativity, an occurrence that is sharply localized at a single point in space and instant of time. Compare world point.
5. Sports. any of the contests in a program made up of one sport or of a number of sports:

   The broad jump event followed the pole vault.

event

/ ɪˈvɛnt /

noun

1. anything that takes place or happens, esp something important; happening; incident
2. the actual or final outcome; result (esp in the phrases in the event, after the event )
3. any one contest in a programme of sporting or other contests

   the high jump is his event

4. philosophy
   1. an occurrence regarded as a bare instant of space-time as contrasted with an object which fills space and has endurance
   2. an occurrence regarded in isolation from, or contrasted with, human agency Compare act
5. in any event or at all events
   regardless of circumstances; in any case
6. in the event of
   in case of; if (such a thing) happens

   in the event of rain the race will be cancelled

7. in the event that
   if it should happen that

verb

1. to take part or ride (a horse) in eventing

Other Words From

• e·vent·less adjective
• su·per·e·vent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of event¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin ēventus “occurrence, outcome,” equivalent to ēven(īre) “to come out, fall out, occur” + -tus suffix of verbal action

Word History and Origins

Origin of event¹

C16: from Latin ēventus a happening, from ēvenīre to come forth, happen, from venīre to come

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in any event, regardless of what happens; in any case. Also at all events.
2. in the event of, if there should be:

   In the event of rain, the party will be held indoors.

3. in the event that, if it should happen that; in case:

   In the event that I can't come back by seven, you can eat without me.

More idioms and phrases containing event

see blessed event ; in any case (event) ; in case (in the event) ; in the unlikely event .

Synonym Study

Event, episode, incident, occurrence are terms for a happening. An event is usually an important happening: historical events. An episode is one of a series of happenings in a person's life or in a narrative: an episode in one's life. An incident is an event of usually minor importance: an amusing incident in a play. An occurrence is something that happens, often by surprise: His arrival was an unexpected occurrence.

Example Sentences

The film is a bewitching spectacle, a classic holiday season event movie that brims with enough earnestness to keep even its fluffiest moments from becoming corny intellectual property slop.

From Salon

This sets off a chain reaction of events culminating in the creation of a “polar vortex” with more extreme cold, storminess and snow.

From Salon

This can be dangerous, as extreme rain events, such as those recently witnessed in Spain that resulted in a devastating death toll, are rising due to climate change.

From Science Daily

However, other events could have a positive impact.

From BBC

Long Beach Realtors Loree Scarborough and Tessa Owen were holding several fat bundles of blue hydrangeas around 8:30 a.m. while considering long stems of orange ranunculus for a client appreciation event later that day.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accident
• act
• action
• affair
• appearance
• business
• case
• celebration
• ceremony
• circumstance
• crisis
• development
• episode
• experience
• fact
• holiday
• incident
• matter
• occasion
• situation