/ ɪˈvent; NAmE / noun
1.
a thing that happens, especially sth important :
The election was the main event of 2004.
In the light of later events the decision was proved right.
The decisions we take now may influence the course of events (= the way things happen) in the future.
Everyone was frightened by the strange sequence of events .
In the normal course of events (= if things had happened as expected) she would have gone with him.
2.
a planned public or social occasion :
a fund-raising event
the social event of the year
3.
one of the races or competitions in a sports programme :
The 800 metres is the fourth event of the afternoon.
—see also field event , track event
•
IDIOMS
- after the event
- in any event | at all events
- in the event
- in the event of sth | in the event that sth happens
- in that event
—more at happy , wise adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Latin eventus , from evenire result, happen, from e- (variant of ex- ) out of + venire come.