event
ih-VEHNT
Event (noun) means something that happens, especially something notable. Example: “The wedding was the biggest event of the year.”
noun
1
Something that happens, especially something notable.
"The wedding was the biggest event of the year."
"News outlets covered the event live."
"The storm was a frightening event that the village remembered for years."
2
A planned occasion or activity, such as a competition or gathering.
"She's competing in three events at the championships."
"The charity is holding a fundraising event at the town hall this weekend."
"Tickets for the school's sports event are free for parents."
3
(computing) An action detected by a program, such as a click or keypress, that triggers a response.
"The button has an event listener attached to it."
"The program waits for a keypress event before it shows the menu."
"When a click event fires, the page updates the list automatically."
How to use event
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that happens or is scheduled to happen.
Common pairings
major event
in the event of
host an event
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Word forms
- Plural
- events
- Third person singular
- events
- Past tense
- evented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wedding was the biggest _____ of the year.
Etymology
From Latin ēventus, "an occurrence," from ēveniō, "to happen" — related to venture and invent.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for event
See all rhymes for event →Frequently asked questions
What does “event” mean?
The word “event” means something that happens, especially something notable. In plain terms, something that happens or is scheduled to happen.
How do you pronounce “event”?
“Event” is pronounced ih-VEHNT (/ɪˈvɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “event” in a sentence?
Here is “event” used in a sentence: “The wedding was the biggest event of the year.”
What part of speech is “event”?
“Event” is a noun.
Where does the word “event” come from?
The word “event” comes from Latin. From Latin ēventus, "an occurrence," from ēveniō, "to happen" — related to venture and invent.
Is “event” a common word?
“Event” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “event” have?
“Event” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that happens, especially something notable.
What is the difference between an event and an occasion?
An event is simply something that happens, from a minor incident to a major happening. An occasion is a particular time marked by an event, often a special or celebratory one, such as a wedding or anniversary. Every occasion involves an event, but 'occasion' carries a sense of significance that 'event' alone does not.
What is the difference between an event and an incident?
An event is any occurrence, and can be neutral, planned, or celebratory — a concert, a festival, a meeting. An incident usually suggests something unexpected and often negative or troublesome, such as a security incident. Both are things that happen, but 'incident' hints at disruption, while 'event' is broader and often positive.
What are the different types of event?
Events range widely. Social events include parties and weddings; cultural events include concerts and exhibitions; sporting events include matches and races; and corporate events include conferences and launches. In physics, an event is a single point in space and time. The word covers anything from a tiny occurrence to a grand gathering.
What is an example of an event?
An event can be as ordinary as a rain shower or as grand as the Olympic Games. In everyday use, people often mean an organised gathering — a birthday party, a festival, a product launch. The key idea is simply that something happens, with 'notable' events being the ones worth remembering or attending.
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