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

From the sound of that press release, it sure seems like they’ll just be turning in a glorified recommendations report, written by a combination of A.I. chatbots and underpaid interns, to present to Trump on the occasion of America’s semiquincentennial, represented alongside the Dogecoin Shiba Inu.

From Slate

The Sun says images of Coote were sent to a friend on more than one occasion during the tournament.

From BBC

But they will allow reporters and photographers in to document the occasion and shout questions, which they may or may not answer.

From Los Angeles Times

Seemingly unable to catch live fish to eat, it charmed visitors by nudging at their cameras and even on one occasion returning a mobile phone.

From BBC

Usually, Veterans Day is an occasion for the Pentagon and the U.S. military to strut their stuff.

From Salon

Related Words

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