event
Americannoun
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something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance.
- Synonyms:
- circumstance, case, affair, happening
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the outcome, issue, or result of anything.
The venture had no successful event.
- Synonyms:
- consequence
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something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time.
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Physics. in relativity, an occurrence that is sharply localized at a single point in space and instant of time.
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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.
idioms
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in the event of, if there should be.
In the event of rain, the party will be held indoors.
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in any event, regardless of what happens; in any case. Also at all events.
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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.
noun
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anything that takes place or happens, esp something important; happening; incident
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the actual or final outcome; result (esp in the phrases in the event, after the event )
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any one contest in a programme of sporting or other contests
the high jump is his event
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philosophy
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an occurrence regarded as a bare instant of space-time as contrasted with an object which fills space and has endurance
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an occurrence regarded in isolation from, or contrasted with, human agency Compare act
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regardless of circumstances; in any case
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in case of; if (such a thing) happens
in the event of rain the race will be cancelled
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if it should happen that
verb
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- eventless adjective
- superevent noun
Etymology
Origin of event
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Doctors are encouraged to consider family history of atherosclerosis, underlying conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and life events like early menopause or pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, when evaluating risk and planning treatment.
From Science Daily
The 400 meters is his specialty, and he’s scheduled to run in that event along with the school’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
From Los Angeles Times
The economic shocks caused nationwide by extreme weather events, the disruption of export markets and now the war have prompted the industry, including California growers, to seek federal assistance.
From Los Angeles Times
The event, organized by the American Conservative Union, launched with an international summit on March 25, 2026, and runs through March 28 in Grapevine, Texas.
From Salon
She finished third in the solo event in her age group when she represented Scotland at the World Championships in Chicago last year.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
