Meaning & use
occasion
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A particular moment or time when something happens.
Grammar: Counts like any noun: on one occasion; on several occasions.
Patterns
- on occasion
- on this occasion
On one occasion, the train arrived an hour late.
I have met her on several occasions.
On this occasion, I will let the mistake go.
nouncountable
A special event or celebration, such as a wedding or anniversary.
Grammar: Often described by an adjective: a special occasion.
Patterns
- an occasion for something
- a special occasion
Their anniversary was a happy occasion for the whole family.
She wore her best dress for the occasion.
The graduation was a proud occasion.
nouncountable or uncountableformal
A good reason or opportunity for doing something.
Grammar: Often followed by for or to: no occasion for worry; no occasion to complain.
Patterns
- occasion for something
- occasion to do something
There was no occasion for rudeness.
The meeting gave her occasion to explain her plan.
verbtransitiveformal
To cause something to happen, especially something unwelcome or unexpected.
Grammar: Takes an object: the delay occasioned some anger.
Patterns
- occasion something
The sudden storm occasioned a change of plans.
His remarks occasioned some embarrassment.
Word forms
| plural | occasions |
|---|---|
| third person singular | occasions |
| past tense | occasioned |
| past participle | occasioned |
| -ing form | occasioning |
Common combinations
- on occasion
- We eat out on occasion, but usually cook at home.
- special occasion
- They saved the wine for a special occasion.
- rise to the occasion
- She rose to the occasion and gave a brilliant speech.
- on this occasion
- On this occasion, the team played much better.
- mark the occasion
- They opened champagne to mark the occasion.
Synonyms and how they differ
- event
- Event is a general word for something that happens, while occasion often suggests a planned or notable gathering.
- instance
- Instance is used for one example of something, while occasion stresses the time it happened.
- opportunity
- Opportunity means a favorable chance, while occasion can simply mean a time, with the chance implied.
- cause
- Cause is the usual word for a reason behind something, while occasion in that sense is more formal and weaker.
Word family
- occasional adjective
- happening now and then
- occasionally adverb
- from time to time
- occasioned adjective
- caused by something
Commonly confused: occasion or occurrence?
occasion vs occurrence
An occurrence is something that happens, while an occasion is the time or event at which it happens. Both words are often spelled with doubled letters by mistake.
Practice
She wore her best dress for the special ___.
Choose one answer.
A special occasion is a celebration or notable event. Occurrence means something that happens, and an accident or instance would not be described as special in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “occasion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.