occasion

American  

[uh-key-zhuhn] / əˈkeɪ ʒən /

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. Obsolete. occasions,

   1. needs or necessities.

   2. necessary business matters.

      to go about one's lawful occasions.

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verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms:

   create, produce, originate, motivate

idioms

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

   She visits New York on occasion.

occasion British  

/ 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. every so often

6. to have the courage, wit, etc, to meet the special demands of a situation

7. to avail oneself of an opportunity (to do something)

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verb

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

occasion More Idioms  

1. see on occasion; rise to the occasion.

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Related Words

See cause.

Other Word Forms

• preoccasioned adjective

Etymology

Origin of occasion

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

Example Sentences

The project has been at the centre of a legal battle for years and construction had been halted on a number of occasions as the company argued its case in court.

From BBC

On this occasion, Leo will return to tradition by performing the traditional "washing of the feet" of 12 Roman priests.

From Barron's

There was a freakishness about the four goals and the whole occasion.

From BBC

His former midfielder Nicky Butt has said that on at least one occasion he was prevented from joining up with the England team by his manager.

From BBC

He came on as a substitute in both group matches and equalised before his side went on to win on both occasions.

From BBC

Related Words

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