occasion

[ uh-key-zhuhn ]

noun

1. a particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences:

   They met on three occasions.

2. a special or important time, event, ceremony, celebration, etc.:

   His birthday will be quite an occasion.

3. a convenient or favorable time, opportunity, or juncture:

   This slack period would be a good occasion to take inventory.

   Synonyms: opening, chance

4. the immediate or incidental cause or reason for some action or result:

   What is the occasion for this uproar?

   Synonyms: influence, inducement, motive

5. (in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead) the coincidence of the eternal objects forming a specific point-event.
6. occasions, Obsolete.
   1. needs or necessities.
   2. necessary business matters:

      to go about one's lawful occasions.

verb (used with object)

1. to give occasion or cause for; bring about.

   Synonyms: create, produce, originate, motivate

occasion

/ əˈkeɪʒən /

noun

1. sometimes foll by of the time of a particular happening or event
2. sometimes foll by for a reason or cause (to do or be something); grounds

   there was no occasion to complain

3. an opportunity (to do something); chance
4. a special event, time, or celebration

   the party was quite an occasion

5. on occasion
   every so often
6. rise to the occasion
   to have the courage, wit, etc, to meet the special demands of a situation
7. take occasion
   to avail oneself of an opportunity (to do something)

verb

1. tr to bring about, esp incidentally or by chance

Other Words From

• preoc·casioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of occasion¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English occasioun, from Old French occasion, from Latin occāsiōn-, stem of occāsiō, literally, “a falling out,” from occās(us) “fallen down” (past participle of occidere “to fall down, set,” from oc- oc- + -cidere, combining form of cadere “to fall”) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of occasion¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on occasion, now and then; from time to time; occasionally:

   She visits New York on occasion.

More idioms and phrases containing occasion

see on occasion ; rise to the occasion .

Synonym Study

See cause.

Example Sentences

In 2022, the commission said the inquiry twice asked Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore to "rectify matters by making a donation to charity" but "on both occasions they declined".

From BBC

On several occasions Mr Adani met personally with government officials to advance the bribery scheme, officials said.

From BBC

On occasion, medical outreach teams hand out glass pipes and test kits that can detect fentanyl or veterinary tranquilizers in drugs before they’re consumed in an effort they say to saves lives.

From Los Angeles Times

This is the sixth occasion a team has been five points clear after 11 games - the first five all ended up as champions.

From BBC

The USC-bound Palmer had prevailed on every occasion, including a 55-42 victory in a divisional high school championship game that was widely considered the best in Orange County history.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affair
• celebration
• circumstance
• episode
• experience
• incident
• milestone
• moment
• scene
• thing
• time