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View synonyms for

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: ,

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

    is the occasion for this uproar?

    Synonyms: , ,

  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: , , ,

occasion

/ əˈɪə /

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)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to bring about, esp incidentally or by chance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • o·sDzԱ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of occasion1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English occasioun, from Old French occasion, from Latin dzō-, stem of dzō, literally, “a falling out,” from dz(ܲ) “fallen down” (past participle of occidere “to fall down, set,” from oc- oc- + -cidere, combining form of cadere “to fall”) + -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of occasion1

C14: from Latin dzō a falling down, from occidere, from ob- down + cadere to fall
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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 .
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Synonym Study

See cause.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"One of the aims of my father and John was to show that on occasion, the family of humankind could be joyous together and celebrate together," said Brasher.

From

A security guard who wished to remain anonymous told BBC News stories of Pope Francis visiting the church on many occasions.

From

On several occasions the courts have stepped in to halt the cost-cutting moves, at least once blocking Doge directly when a judge stopping the agency from accessing personal data held within US Treasury records.

From

On each occasion he asked for forgiveness, the congregation applauded.

From

When you are as expressive on the touchline as Pep Guardiola, visual evidence can be enough to gauge the importance of an occasion.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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