(dated, 1960s-1970s) One who participates in a happening.
A person who makes things happen.
1998, Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker, page 118,Goodparley says, 'O no and in deed he aint hes bettern clevver hes a mover hes a happener. ...'
1998, November 2, hate crimes, How does (to take an extreme example) me saying to myself that somebody deserves what happens give any support to the happener?
2009, Jan Doke, Broken Jar, page 167,Just as we who believe in God know that there can be no creation without a Creator, we also know that whenever something happens, there is always a happener.
A person to whom things happen.
1984, Rex Burns, Strip Search: A Gabe Wager Mystery, page 23,"No way! He's not one of these people that do things. There's two kinds of people—the doers and the happeners. He's a happener. You know, things happen to him instead."
(often used in the negative) An event that is expected to happen; a plan that is likely to succeed.
1999, November 21, AGP Zero Tolerance Policy?, The planned access via Netizen appears not to be a happener.
2000, November 1, Lord save me ..., It's a happener. All systems are go.
2003, November 23, Photo id for flying between the UK and Ireland, You should be able to get your passport renewed at the embassy in London. If that's not a happener, try to get a temporary passport.
