From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoccasionoc‧ca‧sion1 /əˈkeɪʒən/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 time a) [countable]HAPPEN a time when something happenson ... occasions I’ve seen Jana with them on several occasions. On this occasion we were sitting in a park in Madrid. She had met Zahid on two separate occasions. b) [singular]SUITABLE a suitable or favourable timeoccasion for This was the occasion for expressions of friendship by the two presidents. ► Do not use occasion to mean ‘a time when it is possible for you to do what you want to do’. Use opportunity or chance: Do not waste this opportunity (NOT this occasion).► see thesaurus at time2 special event [countable]HAPPEN an important social event or ceremony I’m saving this bottle of champagne for a special occasion.► see thesaurus at event3 cause/reason [uncountable] formalCAUSEREASON a cause or reason His remark was the occasion of a bitter quarrel. I had occasion to call on him last year.4 → if (the) occasion arises5 → on occasion6 → on the occasion of somethingCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: adjectivesseveral occasionsHe has helped me on several occasions.many occasionsI have seen him drunk on many occasions.numerous occasionsShe has been late on numerous occasions.two/three etc occasionsHe was given a red card on two occasions this season.a rare occasion (=used when something does not happen often)Only on rare occasions did she ever receive a letter.a particular occasionOn that particular occasion, he greeted me by kissing my hand.a previous occasionHe insisted then, as on every previous occasion, that he was innocent.a separate occasionI had heard this story on at least four separate occasions.a different occasionThe same person can react differently on different occasions.such occasions (=an occasion like the one mentioned or described)He had a box of toys by his desk for such occasions.phrasesa number of occasionsThe crowd interrupted her speech on a number of occasions.more than one occasion (=more than once)She stayed out all night on more than one occasion.at least one occasion (=once, and probably more than once)On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: an important social event or ceremonyadjectivesa special occasionShe used her best china on special occasions.a big/great/splendid occasionThe big occasion for country people was the Agricultural Fair.a formal occasionHe wore the suit on formal occasions.a social occasionI prefer not to discuss business at social occasions.a ceremonial occasion (=a very formal official occasion)The gowns are worn only on ceremonial occasions.a happy/joyful occasionThe wedding had been a joyful occasion.a sad/solemn occasionHe did not want his funeral to be a sad and solemn occasion, but a celebration of his life.a festive occasion (=when you celebrate something)The Great Hall had been prepared for the festive occasion.a historic occasion (=important as part of history)This is truly a historic occasion.verbscelebrate an occasionTo celebrate the occasion, a small party was held at his home.mark an occasion (=do something special to celebrate an event)The bells were rung to mark the occasion.suit the occasionThe table was decorated to suit the occasion.phrasesa sense of occasion (=a feeling that an event is very special or important)The music gave the event a real sense of occasion.enter into the spirit of the occasion (=join in a social occasion in an eager way)People entered into the spirit of the occasion by enjoying a picnic before the outdoor concert.
Examples from the Corpus
occasion• It was quite an occasion. All the local dignitaries were there, dressed in their finest clothes.• I do not intend to follow that, because we shall have an opportunity to do so on another occasion.• Thanksgiving is a really big occasion in the States.• The witness said that on both occasions he noticed Davis because of his heavily tattooed arms.• I've suggested that she should move on numerous occasions, but she never takes any notice.• The control subjects did not receive either placebo or loperamide oxide tablets but underwent an identical series of measurements on one occasion.• On one occasion, Anna fainted while out shopping with friends.• She had met Zahid on a previous occasion.• I remember Michael sleeping in your room on several occasions and mom not knowing about it.• She was saving four bottles of their best champagne for a special occasion.• It's our wedding anniversary next month, and we're having a party to celebrate the occasion.• I went out and bought a new dress just for the occasion.• I had only met her once before the film brought us together, but I remember the occasion well.• Every new challenge puts all the resources of the communicator to the test, and most solutions belong to the occasion.• As I say, it is the chorus which too often fails to rise to the occasion.• It was a useful occasion for an outing to visit the Casterton dig.occasion for• The summit is an occasion for different countries to exchange views.had occasion to• She had already had occasion to notice Katherine's skills, skills with arrangement, with colours and shape.• Neilson consequently had occasion to use jets in the manner for which they were designed and for which the pilots were trained.• Inspector Blakelock or Brend Pridmore could easily have had occasion to go there.• It was nearly three years before Father Maier had occasion to raise the issue with his superiors.• She and Shildon had never had occasion to work together so what made him think of her?• The legislature has never had occasion to speak on this matter, and the issue has never come to court.• I have never had occasion to effect an arrest nor to summons any person.• I've never had occasion to dial 911 for emergency help.• It's not a phrase I've had occasion to use all that much.occasionoccasion2 verb [transitive] formal CAUSEto cause something She had a long career break occasioned by her husband’s job being moved to Paris.occasion somebody something Your behaviour has occasioned us a great deal of anxiety.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
occasion• The girl's solitary state occasioned a good deal of sympathy, and in some cases, even stronger feelings.• For government was occasioned by the needs of capitalism and the acquisitive mentality which capitalism produced.• The theological debates occasioned by this crisis of identity occupied the generation of Jerome and Augustine.• As with so many things, I was ignorant of the conditions that occasioned change.• Which occasioned even more horn blowing, and heads out the window shouting.• Milton's mismanagement of the company occasioned the loss of thousands of jobs.Origin occasion1 (1300-1400) French Latin occasio, from occidere “to fall down” 