in the event
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"In the event of his being elected," means in case, or provided he is elected; if the result is that he is elected.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in the event” mean?
"In the event of his being elected," means in case, or provided he is elected; if the result is that he is elected.
Is “in the event” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.