occasion

[ uh-key-zhuhn ]
/ əˈkeɪ ʒən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR occasion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object)

to give occasion or cause for; bring about.

Idioms for occasion

    on occasion, now and then; from time to time; occasionally: She visits New York on occasion.

Origin of occasion

1350–1400; Middle English occasioun < Old French occasion < Latin occāsiōn- (stem of occāsiō), equivalent to oc- oc- + cās(us) (past participle of cadere to fall, befall) + -iōn- -ion

synonym study for occasion

4. See cause.

OTHER WORDS FROM occasion

pre·oc·ca·sioned, adjective

Words nearby occasion

ocarina, occ., occam, occam's razor, occas., occasion, occasional, occasional licence, occasional table, occasionalism, occasionally

Words related to on occasion

intermittently, infrequently, occasionally, sporadically, periodically, seldom, sometimes, hardly, already, formerly, previously, earlier, late, before, frequently, consistently, constantly, suddenly, again, later

British Dictionary definitions for on occasion

occasion
/ (əˈkeɪʒən) /

noun

verb

(tr) to bring about, esp incidentally or by chance
See also occasions

Word Origin for occasion

C14: from Latin occāsiō a falling down, from occidere, from ob- down + cadere to fall

Idioms and Phrases with on occasion (1 of 2)

on occasion

From time to time, now and then, as in Nell has been known to eat meat on occasion. This usage, first in the form of upon occasion, replaced by occasion about 1600.

Idioms and Phrases with on occasion (2 of 2)

occasion

see on occasion; rise to the occasion.