Meaning & use
non-event
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableinformal
an event or occasion that was expected to be exciting or important but turned out to be dull or insignificant
Grammar: Countable: a non-event, the non-event, two non-events.
Patterns
- be a non-event
- turn out to be a non-event
- the whole thing was a non-event
The big concert was a non-event; hardly anyone showed up and the band played for only twenty minutes.
After all the hype, the product launch was a complete non-event.
The meeting was supposed to be crucial, but it was a non-event—we just agreed to meet again next month.
Word forms
| plural | non-events |
|---|
Common combinations
- a complete non-event
- The party was a complete non-event; most people left early.
- turn out to be a non-event
- The storm turned out to be a non-event, with barely any rain.
- be something of a non-event
- The election was something of a non-event because the result was never in doubt.
- a bit of a non-event
- The awards ceremony was a bit of a non-event this year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- letdown
- A letdown is a disappointment after high expectations; a non-event is more about something being dull or unimportant, not necessarily disappointing.
- flop
- A flop fails completely, while a non-event simply fails to be exciting or significant.
- dud
- A dud is something that does not work or is worthless; a non-event is an occasion that is boring or unimportant.
Opposites
Word family
- event noun
- Something that happens, especially something important or interesting.
- eventful adjective
- Full of interesting or important events.
- uneventful adjective
- Quiet and without any exciting events.
Commonly confused: non-event or non-eventful?
non-event vs non-eventful
Non-eventful is not a common word; the usual adjective is uneventful. Non-event is a noun meaning a dull occasion.
Practice
Everyone expected the festival to be amazing, but it was a total ______ because it rained all weekend and most bands canceled.
Choose one answer.
Non-event is the noun that means a disappointing or dull occasion. Non-eventful is not a standard word. Uneventful is an adjective meaning quiet and ordinary, which would describe the weekend but not fit the structure 'a total ___'. Eventful means full of exciting events, the opposite of what is needed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-event”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.