51Թ

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View synonyms for

occasion

[uh-key-zhuhn]

noun

  1. a particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences.

    They met on three occasions.

  2. a special or important time, event, ceremony, celebration, etc..

    His birthday will be quite an occasion.

  3. a convenient or favorable time, opportunity, or juncture.

    This slack period would be a good occasion to take inventory.

    Synonyms: ,
  4. the immediate or incidental cause or reason for some action or result.

    What is the occasion for this uproar?

    Synonyms: , ,
  5. (in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead) the coincidence of the eternal objects forming a specific point-event.

  6. Obsolete.occasions,

    1. needs or necessities.

    2. necessary business matters.

      to go about one's lawful occasions.



verb (used with object)

  1. to give occasion or cause for; bring about.

    Synonyms: , , ,

occasion

/ əˈɪə /

noun

  1. (sometimes foll by of) the time of a particular happening or event

  2. (sometimes foll by for) a reason or cause (to do or be something); grounds

    there was no occasion to complain

  3. an opportunity (to do something); chance

  4. a special event, time, or celebration

    the party was quite an occasion

  5. every so often

  6. to have the courage, wit, etc, to meet the special demands of a situation

  7. to avail oneself of an opportunity (to do something)

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to bring about, esp incidentally or by chance

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • preoccasioned adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of occasion1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English occasioun, from Old French occasion, from Latin dzō-, stem of dzō, literally, “a falling out,” from dz(ܲ) “fallen down” (past participle of occidere “to fall down, set,” from oc- oc- + -cidere, combining form of cadere “to fall”) + -ion
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of occasion1

C14: from Latin dzō a falling down, from occidere, from ob- down + cadere to fall
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on occasion, now and then; from time to time; occasionally.

    She visits New York on occasion.

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Synonym Study

See cause.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The occasion was marked by pomp and pageantry but, at the King's request, there was a moment of silence to remember the victims of the Air India crash and the Royal Family wore black armbands.

From

He had been violent on two occasions against fellow pupils, and was suspended for a day each time.

From

Prince, who played 66 Tests for South Africa between 2002 and 2011, said the players will not do anything differently to prepare for the fourth day as he called Markram "someone for the big occasion".

From

But while Newsom has no other choice to fight back, these past few days, he has risen to the occasion in a way that even the most cynical can't deny.

From

Remember we saw that on two occasions last year, drawing in the US.

From

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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.

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occas.occasional