- occasion
- I UK [əˈkeɪʒ(ə)n] / US
noun
Word forms "occasion":
singular occasion plural occasions
***
1) [countable] a time at which something happenson one occasion (= once):on this occasion:On one occasion we had to walk all the way home.
on an earlier occasion:I'll let you off on this occasion.
on occasion (= sometimes):We tested a similar product on an earlier occasion.
He continues to work with us on occasion.
a) [singular] a suitable time for somethingoccasion for:not the occasion for something (= not an appropriate time for something):Her promotion was an occasion for great celebration.
occasion for doing something:This is not the occasion for such a detailed analysis.
occasion for someone to do something:Victory provided him with the occasion for declaring himself king.
This will be an occasion for us all to make a new start.
b) [countable] a special or important time or eventspecial occasion:The first opening of a Scottish parliament for 300 years was a historic occasion.
mark an occasion (= celebrate it):The dress is perfect for a special occasion.
on the occasion of something (= when something special happens):We should mark the occasion in some way.
There was a celebration on the occasion of the school's anniversary.
2)a) [singular] formal a reason for somethinghave occasion to do something:I've had no occasion to complain about their service.
b) a cause of somethingbe the occasion of something:His mistake was the occasion of much amusement.
•if/when the occasion arises
— if/when a particular situation happensIf the occasion arises, I'll ask for your help.
See:rise to 3)
II UK [əˈkeɪʒ(ə)n] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "occasion":
present tense I/you/we/they occasion he/she/it occasions present participle occasioning past tense occasioned past participle occasioned formalto cause somethingoccasion someone something:These were problems occasioned by the change of economic policy.
Their rude attitude occasioned him much distress.
English dictionary. 2014.