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 Word Forms

• 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

He sells and repairs phones, tablets and computers and has been targeted by fraudsters – who walked directly into his shop - using fake banking apps on three occasions in recent months.

From BBC

M, moving through different stages of grief, treats the apocalypse as an occasion to party like it’s 1999 — or whatever year the end of the world is now scheduled.

From Los Angeles Times

It is also alleged that the suspect set fire to the apartments of his alleged victims to cover up the killings on five different occasions.

From BBC

Feleti Teo, the prime minister, said the move "not only marks a momentous occasion but it is also historic as the bank moves into a totally new era".

From BBC

A 14-year-old girl from Bridgend pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault, and one count of blackmail.

From BBC

Related Words

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