occasion

[ uh-key-zhuhn ]

/ əˈkeɪ ʒən /

See synonyms for: occasion / occasioned / occasions on Thesaurus.com

noun

a particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences: They met on three occasions.

a special or important time, event, ceremony, celebration, etc.: His birthday will be quite an occasion.

a convenient or favorable time, opportunity, or juncture: This slack period would be a good occasion to take inventory.

the immediate or incidental cause or reason for some action or result: What is the occasion for this uproar?

(in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead) the coincidence of the eternal objects forming a specific point-event.

occasions, Obsolete.

needs or necessities.
necessary business matters: to go about one's lawful occasions.

verb (used with object)

to give occasion or cause for; bring about.

SYNONYMS FOR occasion

3 chance, opening.

4 motive, inducement, influence.

7 motivate, originate, produce, create.

See synonyms for occasion on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for occasion

on occasion, now and then; from time to time; occasionally: She visits New York on occasion.

Origin of occasion

1350–1400; Middle English occasioun<Old French occasion<Latin occāsiōn- (stem of occāsiō), equivalent to oc-oc- + cās(us) (past participle of cadere to fall, befall) + -iōn--ion

synonym study for occasion

4. See cause.

OTHER WORDS FROM occasion

pre·oc·ca·sioned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for occasion

This list is also sent to various other friends and family, in plenty of time before the occasion.
Miss Manners: Family visit becomes one big project|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
You’ll find this variation served throughout Morocco’s coastal cities for special occasions like weddings and birthdays.
Five Must-Try Dishes in Casablanca, Morocco|Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki|November 11, 2020|Eater
Just as I’ve done for over a decade on the floor of restaurants, I take so much joy in sourcing universally loved, high-quality flavor profiles that suit all occasions.
Canned wine might have been primed for socializing in the era of social distancing|Rachel King|November 8, 2020|Fortune
I have seen him cry on many occasions when he thought things were slipping out of hand and he just couldn’t let it happen.
Architecture ‘maverick’ dies of covid-19, congestive heart failure at 93|Emily Davies|November 6, 2020|Washington Post

Finally, its laid-back but tapered style is ideal for appearances at nearly any occasion in Santa Fe.
The Gear Our Editors Loved in October|The Editors|November 5, 2020|Outside Online
Remember what Romney was asked that occasioned his infamous comments?
Michael Tomasky on How the Right Is Still Racist|Michael Tomasky|November 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
My obituary for Andrew Breitbart has occasioned a lot of comment.
Mickey Kaus Proves My Point About Breitbart|David Frum|March 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This was occasioned by the muzzles being pointed downwards into the ditch, which gave the report an unusual and appalling effect.
Twenty-Five Years in the Rifle Brigade|William Surtees
One is my dedication for my essays; it was occasioned by that delicious article in the Spectator.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 23 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Some delay in their arrival home was occasioned by an untoward incident even before they finally left London.
The Story of the Cambrian|C. P. Gasquoine
For, be it known, it was this avanc that had occasioned the flood.
Welsh Folk-Lore|Elias Owen
An instance of mischievous credulity, occasioned by consulting this impostor, once fell under the re-130-view of the Author.
A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis|Patrick Colquhoun

British Dictionary definitions for occasion

occasion

/ (əˈkeɪʒən) /

noun

(sometimes foll by of) the time of a particular happening or event

(sometimes foll by for) a reason or cause (to do or be something); groundsthere was no occasion to complain

an opportunity (to do something); chance

a special event, time, or celebrationthe party was quite an occasion

on occasion every so often

rise to the occasion to have the courage, wit, etc, to meet the special demands of a situation

take occasion to avail oneself of an opportunity (to do something)

verb

(tr) to bring about, esp incidentally or by chance

Word Origin for occasion

C14: from Latin occāsiō a falling down, from occidere, from ob- down + cadere to fall

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with occasion

occasion

see on occasion; rise to the occasion.

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occasion

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of occasion

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OTHER WORDS FROM occasion

Example sentences from the Web for occasion

British Dictionary definitions for occasion

noun

verb

Word Origin for occasion

Idioms and Phrases with occasion

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

occasion

noun

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR occasion

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for occasion

Origin of occasion

synonym study for occasion

OTHER WORDS FROM occasion

Words related to occasion

Example sentences from the Web for occasion

British Dictionary definitions for occasion

noun

verb

Word Origin for occasion

Idioms and Phrases with occasion