Figure in various events (5)
I believe the answer is:
seven
'figure' is the definition.
(seven is a number)
'in various events' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'SEVEN' can be found hidden inside 'various events'.
(Other definitions for seven that I've seen before include "Prime number" , "VII" , "Numeral" , "Cardinal" , "equivalent of uproar [7D]" .)