occasion Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
occasion definition

oc·ca·sion (ə kā′z̸hən, ō-)

noun

  1. a favorable time or juncture; opportunity
  2. a fact, event, or state of affairs that makes something else possible a chance meeting was the occasion of the renewal of their friendship
  3. a cause or reason you have no occasion to be angry
    1. a happening; occurrence
    2. the time at which something happens; particular time on the occasion of our last meeting
  5. a special time or event, suitable for celebration
  6. need arising from circumstances
    1. Obsolete needs; requirements
    2. Archaic affairs; business

Etymology: ME occasioun < OFr < L occasio, accidental opportunity, fit time < occasus, pp. of occidere, to fall < ob- (see ob-) + cadere, to fall: see case

transitive verb

to be the occasion of; give occasion to; cause
occasion Idioms

on occasion

once in a while; sometimes; occasionally

rise to the occasion

to do whatever suddenly becomes necessary; meet an emergency

take (the) occasion

to use the opportunity (to do something)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms occasion idiom

occasion Synonyms

occasion

n.

  1. An event

    occurrence, incident, happening; see event 1, 2.

  2. An opportunity

    chance, excuse, opening; see opportunity 1, possibility 2.

  3. A time

    moment, instant, season; see time 2.

  4. An (immediate) cause

    prompting, incident, antecedent; see cause 1, 3, circumstance 1.

on occasion

once in a while, sometimes, occasionally, at certain times; see hardly, seldom.

on the occasion of

at the time when, because of, since; see at 1, because, on 1.

rise to the occasion

do what is necessary, meet an emergency, carry on; see succeed 1.

take the occasion

seize the opportunity, use the opportunity, do something, bring about; see act 1, use 1.


occasion

v.

bring about, introduce, do; see cause.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

occasion Usage Examples

Object

  • loss: We will not, therefore, accept responsibility for any loss occasioned by reliance on the contents hereof.

Converse of object

  • celebrate: This was followed by a formal dinner to celebrate the occasion where CWO Callan was seated next to the Air Commodore!

Adjective modifier

  • rare: You no longer take showers even on the rare occasion there is hot water.

Modifies a noun

  • bennett: Occasions bennett explains not for their d in the.

Noun used with modifier

  • gift-giving: Price: £ 1.09 Acid Free - Pressies 15 pressies for all gift-giving occasions.

Preposition: in

  • past: I thought you were trying to make a fool of me, as you have on several occasions in the past.

Preposition: of

  • anniversary: Speer and He will be screened on German television in the spring, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Hitler's death.

Preposition: for

  • celebration: The news that unemployment is moving below one million for the first time since the 1970s should be an occasion for celebration.
occasion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

occasion quotes

An occasion, catalyst, or tripwire†permits the poet to reach into herself and haul up whatever nugget of the human condition distracts her at the moment, something that can't be reached in any other way.

-Ackerman, Diane

It is this tendency to play with manic enthusiasm on every possible occasion that distinguishes the amateur jazz musician from the professional, often to the public detriment of the latter, who are regarded as snootyand unfriendly.

-Lyttelton, Humphrey Richard Adeane

Yet once more,O ye laurels, and once more Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never-sere I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude, And with forc'd fingers rude, Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear, Compels me to disturb your season due For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer.

-Milton,John

occasion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"occasion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/occasion>

APA Style

occasion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/occasion

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment