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

For a special occasion, or in the company of wine lovers, this is an exquisite pick.

From Eater

So, for now, set your sights on a special occasion and plan it out together with your partner.

From Popular-Science

Staff also testified that they saw women leave Salsman’s office “in tears or distress” on multiple occasions.

From Washington Post

Whether the occasion calls for dinner and drinks after indulging in Sundance’s best films or lunch before hitting the slopes, Park City’s restaurants do it all.

From Eater

This pair from Outdoor Voices is made from an incredibly soft polyester-spandex blend that keeps me comfortable while I’m lounging around at home, and the fitted silhouette helps me feel put together on the rare occasions I actually leave the house.

From Outside Online

Last week I turned 40, a bittersweet occasion because I crossed the line to living longer without my mother than with her.

From The Daily Beast

To Hitchcock, this is not a sweet wire from an old colleague but a condolence letter on the occasion of his own death.

From The Daily Beast

It was also an occasion for voluptuary displays of tough-mindedness.

From The Daily Beast

But the occasion is even more special when you can cheers with some funky flutes.

From The Daily Beast

The government defines excessive drinking as drinking too much on one occasion over the course of a week.

From The Daily Beast

Some were even re-arrested for the same nefarious purpose, and the daily papers published their names on each occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

Fatigue he never knew, and on one occasion he was said to have spent thirteen days and nights in the saddle.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes necessity makes an honest man a knave: and a rich man a honest man, because he has no occasion to be a knave.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Brown seizes the proffered member, and gives it as hearty a pressure as the publicity of the occasion will permit.

From Project Gutenberg

The occasion should be seized also to increase the balances of depositors who carry unprofitable accounts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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