occasion

uh-KAY-zhuhn/əˈkeɪʒən/

Pluraloccasions

Verboccasions, occasioning, occasioned

10 meanings of occasion

Practice

1
nouncountable
A single time when one particular thing took place.
Like one dot on a calendar marking a single day.
On one occasion, the dog ran away and we found it later.
There was one occasion when the power went out for hours.
Similartime, moment, instant, juncture, minute
Note
2
nouncountable
A special event, like a party, wedding, or celebration.
Like a birthday party: a special day that stands out.
We saved the fancy plates for a special occasion.
Her birthday was a big occasion for the whole family.
Similarevent, function, affair, celebration
3
nouncountable
The point in time when something takes place.
On the occasion of his retirement, the staff threw a party.
We met again on the occasion of her graduation.
4
nouncountable
A good chance to do something at the right time.
Like an open door at just the right moment to walk through.
The trip gave us a perfect occasion to test the new car.
A quiet evening is a good occasion to call old friends.
Similaropportunity, chance
Note
5
nouncountable or uncountable
Something that happens and gives a reason for an action or reaction.
His rude comment was the occasion for a long argument.
The small dispute became the occasion for real change.
Similarcause, trigger, reason
6
nouncountable or uncountable
A thing or event that makes something else happen.
Like a match that starts a fire.
Bad weather was the occasion of the delay.
The new law was the occasion of many complaints.
Similarcause, source
7
noununcountable
A reason or excuse a person gives for doing something.
His behavior gave us no occasion for worry.
There was no occasion to be rude to her.
Similarreason, cause, grounds
8
verbtransitive
To make something else happen, or to cause it.
Like a stone dropped in water that starts ripples.
Heavy rains occasion floods nearly every spring.
The mistake occasioned a great deal of trouble.
Similarcause, provoke, prompt, spark
Note
9
noununcountable
A need or reason to have or do something.
Like needing a tool only when there is a job to do.
We had no occasion for alarm after the test results came back.
There was little occasion for extra help that week.
Similarneed, call
Note

Less common meaning

10
nounobsoletecountable
An event or incident that happens to someone.
Similarevent, incident, occurrence, episode, happening
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of occasion apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin occāsiōnem, from a verb meaning 'to fall down or away', made from ob- ('down, away') and cadō ('fall'). It came into English through French.