transpire
0 antonyms and opposites of transpire, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To happen or occur.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb disputed by some usage guides
To happen or occur.
“Let me know what transpires at the meeting.”
2. verb
To become known; to come to light, especially after being hidden or unclear.
“It later transpired that he had never held a licence.”
How to use transpire
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and slightly journalistic. "It transpired that" is the standard frame in news reporting for a fact revealed after the event.
Etymology
From Latin trans- "across, through" and spirare "to breathe", via French transpirer. The original English sense was the botanical one of vapour passing through a surface, from which the figurative sense of information leaking out developed.
Full origin of transpire →Frequently asked questions
Does transpire mean "happen"?
In everyday usage, yes — it has meant "happen" for over two centuries and appears that way in respected writing. Some traditionalists still object, arguing the word should be reserved for "become known", so in formal prose "it transpired that" is the safer construction and "what transpired" the riskier one.
What is the difference between transpire and occur?
Occur is neutral and applies to anything that happens. Transpire in its stricter sense adds the idea of something previously concealed coming out, so "it transpired that the accounts were falsified" says the fact emerged, not merely that it happened.
What does transpire mean in biology?
It means to release water vapour through the stomata of leaves. Transpiration pulls water up from the roots and is a major part of the water cycle, which is why deforestation measurably changes local rainfall.