occasion
Americannoun
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a particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences.
They met on three occasions.
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a special or important time, event, ceremony, celebration, etc..
His birthday will be quite an occasion.
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a convenient or favorable time, opportunity, or juncture.
This slack period would be a good occasion to take inventory.
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the immediate or incidental cause or reason for some action or result.
What is the occasion for this uproar?
- Synonyms:
- influence, inducement, motive
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(in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead) the coincidence of the eternal objects forming a specific point-event.
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Obsolete. occasions,
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needs or necessities.
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necessary business matters.
to go about one's lawful occasions.
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verb (used with object)
idioms
noun
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(sometimes foll by of) the time of a particular happening or event
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(sometimes foll by for) a reason or cause (to do or be something); grounds
there was no occasion to complain
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an opportunity (to do something); chance
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a special event, time, or celebration
the party was quite an occasion
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every so often
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to have the courage, wit, etc, to meet the special demands of a situation
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to avail oneself of an opportunity (to do something)
verb
Related Words
See cause.
Other Word Forms
- preoccasioned adjective
Etymology
Origin of occasion
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English occasioun, from Old French occasion, from Latin occāsiōn-, stem of occāsiō, literally, “a falling out,” from occās(us) “fallen down” (past participle of occidere “to fall down, set,” from oc- oc- + -cidere, combining form of cadere “to fall”) + -iō -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Glasner was left frustrated at how Palace had twice led United at half-time this season and ended up with nothing on both occasions.
From BBC
The players certainly need no added motivation to get up for such occasions under the lights.
From BBC
During my first review last year, he said, “I just feel like you don’t dress for the occasion.”
From MarketWatch
During my first review last year, he said, “I just feel like you don’t dress for the occasion.”
During my first review last year, he said, “I just feel like you don’t dress for the occasion.”
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.
