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
Synonym Usage
See cause.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have occasionedperfect
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has occasionedperfect 3rd person singular
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is occasioningprogressive 3rd person singular
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occasionssingular 3rd person
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am occasioningprogressive 1st person singular
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occasioningparticiple
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have been occasioningperfect progressive
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are occasioningprogressive
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has been occasioningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had occasionedperfect
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were occasioningprogressive plural
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occasionedparticiple
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was occasioningprogressive singular
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had been occasioningperfect progressive
-
occasionedsimple
Future
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
Explanation
Occasion means something special––that happens seldom or is notable when it does. On occasion, we sit down together as a family, but not every day, and never for dinner. When Great Aunt Mabel visits, however, we rise to the occasion and stage a large family meal. Occasion can also mean a designated time or reason something happens, or it can be an event in itself. I'm giving you your grandmother's ring on the occasion of your graduation from high school. I haven't had occasion to look at it since she died. It's valuable, so only wear it on special occasions.
Vocabulary lists containing occasion
English Words Derived from French, List 1
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Introducing Rhetoric: Using the "Available Means" (Chapter 1)
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
Now is the latest such occasion, with bitcoin currently trading almost precisely on top of that line.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
There was also surely symbolism in beginning this Disney occasion with a work by Adams.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
In normal circumstances, when American dignitaries come to Normandy for the anniversary to pay their respects, it’s a solemn but proud occasion.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
The family also received incorrect information about how to make a complaint and on another occasion were sent a form for another family with the same surname.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
On one occasion, the Japanese soldiers near her house invite her to an officers’ party in the Engineering Building of the local university.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
