occasions

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of occasion.

   On three separate occasions the committee postponed its decision.

   Formal occasions call for more careful dress than everyday gatherings.

   Note

   Counting is what the plural is for: on three occasions, on several occasions. These are the times when something happened, taken one by one. The singular also has an uncountable use, as in no occasion for alarm, where it means a reason or warrant rather than a moment. That use has no plural. The same spelling also serves the verb meaning "causes", so occasions followed by a direct object is the verb.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of occasion.

   The new policy occasions considerable confusion among long-term staff.

   Any sudden change in temperature occasions stress on the bridge's joints.

   Note

   Here the spelling belongs to a transitive verb that always needs something to bring about: a policy occasions confusion, a change occasions stress. It sits in formal writing, where cause or produce would do in plain speech. Its object is usually an abstract effect, such as doubt, delay or comment, rather than a person or a concrete thing.

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