To transpire means to happen or occur, especially gradually or eventually. When your teacher asks what transpired during recess, she wants to know what happened. When a friend says “I'll tell you everything that transpired at the party,” they're promising to explain all the events that took place.

The word carries a slightly formal tone. You'd rarely say “What transpired at lunch?” in casual conversation with friends. Instead, you might hear it in news reports (“Officials are investigating what transpired at the scene”) or historical accounts (“Let me tell you what transpired during the Constitutional Convention”).

Interestingly, transpire can also mean to become known or to come to light, like when a secret gradually transpires over time. Many English teachers and writers insist this is the only correct meaning. However, the “happen” meaning has been used for nearly 200 years and appears everywhere from newspapers to novels.

In science class, you might encounter transpiration, which describes how plants release water vapor through their leaves. This biological meaning is related but quite different from the “happen” meaning.