Apedia

Occasion I Special əˈkeɪʒn Separate Met Called Middle

Word occasion
WordType (noun)
Phonetic BrE / əˈkeɪʒn / NAmE / əˈkeɪʒn /
Example
  • on this/that occasion
  • i've met him on several occasions.
  • i can remember very few occasions when he had to cancel because of ill health.
  • they have been seen together on two separate occasions.
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Content

occasion

(noun)BrE / əˈkeɪʒn / NAmE / əˈkeɪʒn /
  1. a particular time when something happens
    • on this/that occasion
    • I've met him on several occasions.
    • I can remember very few occasions when he had to cancel because of ill health.
    • They have been seen together on two separate occasions.
    • On one occasion, she called me in the middle of the night.
    • He used the occasion to announce further tax cuts.
  2. a special event, ceremony or celebration
    • a great/memorable/happy occasion
    • Turn every meal into a special occasion.
    • They marked the occasion (= celebrated it) with an open-air concert.
    • Their wedding turned out to be quite an occasion.
    • He was presented with the watch on the occasion of his retirement.
  3. a suitable time for something
    • It should have been an occasion for rejoicing, but she could not feel any real joy.
    • I’ll speak to him about it if the occasion arises(= if I get a chance).
  4. a reason or cause
    • I've had no occasion to visit him recently.
    • She doesn’t have much occasion to speak French in her new job.
    • Her death was the occasion of mass riots.
    • I'm willing to go to court over this if the occasion arises (= if it becomes necessary).
  5. sometimes but not often
    • He has been known on occasion to lose his temper.
  6. a feeling or understanding that an event is important or special
    • Candles on the table gave the evening a sense of occasion.

    Extra Examples

    • His death became an occasion for widespread discussion of his character.
    • I bought the camera last year, but never had the occasion to use it.
    • I do sometimes dance if the occasion calls for it.
    • I have stayed there on a number of occasions.
    • I only wear my silk dress on special occasions.
    • I want to use this occasion to thank you all for your hard work.
    • I’ll speak to him if the occasion arises.
    • It should have been an occasion for rejoicing.
    • It was the first of many such occasions.
    • Last year we had occasion to visit relatives in Cornwall.
    • Medals are usually worn only on ceremonial occasions.
    • On one occasion he even called me in the middle of the night.
    • On the day of the wedding there was a real sense of occasion.
    • On this occasion, as it happens, the engine started immediately.
    • On this particular occasion, Joe wasn’t there.
    • The Queen’s coach is only used for state occasions.
    • The choir rose to the occasion and sang beautifully.
    • The police were called out on 24 separate occasions.
    • These workshops provide an occasion for talking about art.
    • They came to visit us on the odd occasion, but only when they had nothing better to do.
    • We sell cards and notepaper for all occasions.
    • a party to mark the occasion of their daughter’s graduation
    • the occasion of his 50th birthday
    • I will overlook your lateness, on this occasion.
    • I’ve met him on several occasions.
    • It was certainly a memorable occasion!
    • They have been seen together on two separate occasions.
    • They marked the occasion with an open-air concert.
    • Turn every meal into a special occasion.

    Word Origin

    • late Middle English: from Latin occasio(n-) ‘juncture, reason’, from occidere ‘go down, set’, from ob- ‘towards’ + cadere ‘to fall’.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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