occasion Definition
oc·ca·sion (ə kā′z̸hən, ō-)
noun
- a favorable time or juncture; opportunity
- a fact, event, or state of affairs that makes something else possible a chance meeting was the occasion of the renewal of their friendship
- a cause or reason you have no occasion to be angry
- a happening; occurrence
- the time at which something happens; particular time on the occasion of our last meeting
- a special time or event, suitable for celebration
- need arising from circumstances
- Obsolete needs; requirements
- 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)
occasion Synonyms
occasion
n.
An event
occurrence, incident, happening; see event 1, 2.An opportunity
chance, excuse, opening; see opportunity 1, possibility 2.A time
An (immediate) cause
prompting, incident, antecedent; see cause 1, 3, circumstance 1.
on occasion
on the occasion of
rise to the occasion
take the occasion
occasion Synonyms
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!
- commemorate: Some of his former pupils are recording a CD to commemorate the occasion.
- mark: To mark the special occasion we were honored by the presence of Queen Victoria herself!
- suit: The priest will adapt the ceremony to suit the occasion.
- recall: Roster interviewed 186 people who were able to recall a recent occasion when they gave someone a present that they clearly didn't like.
- remember: I clearly remember the occasion of the prefects photograph.
Adjective modifier
- rare: You no longer take showers even on the rare occasion there is hot water.
- special: To mark the special occasion we were honored by the presence of Queen Victoria herself!
- numerous: The contract of care was broken on numerous occasions.
- memorable: To round off a memorable occasion, event caterers Crumbs served guests with a splendid fork supper.
- several: On several occasions, House Speaker Tip O'Neill received 5 million pieces of mail in a single day.. .
- momentous: In the authentic ambiance it was a momentous occasion to look back to the future.
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.
- dozen: The ropes tying some horses in the truck broke on at least a dozen 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.
- celebration: The collaboration with Lord Norman Foster began with the project for the North Greenwich Transport Interchange in London on occasion of the Millenium celebrations.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near occasion
- occasional ›
- occasionalism ›
- occasionally ›
- occident ›
- occidental ›
- Occidentalism ›
- Occidentalize ›
- occipital ›
- occipital bone ›
- occiput ›
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