transpire

9 synonyms for transpire, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To happen or occur.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

happen occur

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

emerge

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

take place come about transpirate come out come to light become apparent

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb disputed by some usage guides

To happen or occur.

“Let me know what transpires at the meeting.”

happen occur take place come about transpirate

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.”

emerge come out come to light become apparent

How to use transpire

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

it transpired that as it transpired later transpired transpire that

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.

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