Definition

1. Noun (plural form):
   • Particular times or events: Specific instances or moments when something happens.
   • Special or important events: Social gatherings or ceremonies, often formal.
   • Opportunities or reasons: Suitable times or circumstances that provide a chance for something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • On rare occasions, he would smile. (This refers to specific, infrequent moments.)
  • They bought a new dress for special occasions. (This refers to important events like weddings or parties.)
  • His rude behavior gave occasion for complaint. (This uses the singular 'occasion' to mean a reason or cause.)

Advanced Usage

• "on occasion": sometimes, but not often.
  • She visits the city on occasion. (She visits sometimes.)
• "rise to the occasion": to act effectively in response to a special situation or challenge.
  • When the team captain was injured, she rose to the occasion and led them to victory.
• "as the occasion demands": as required by the specific situation.
  • He is always polite, but can be firm as the occasion demands.

Variants and Related Words

• Occasion (singular noun): A particular time or instance of an event. The base form of 'occasions'.
  • I've met him on several occasions.
• Occasional (adjective): Happening or appearing infrequently.
  • We enjoy an occasional trip to the beach.
• Occasionally (adverb): Sometimes, but not regularly.
  • It snows occasionally in this region.

Synonyms

• Instances: Specific examples or cases of something.
• Events: Things that happen, especially important ones.
• Opportunities: Situations that make it possible to do something.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Phrases

• To occasion (verb): To cause something.
  • The news occasioned great joy among the staff. (This is a formal use of the verb.)

Related Idioms

• "A sense of occasion": A feeling that an event is important or special.
  • The decorations and music gave the party a real sense of occasion.
• "Equal to the occasion": Having the necessary ability to deal with a demanding situation.
  • The young manager proved equal to the occasion during the crisis.

Noun

1. something you have to do
   • he minded his own specialized occasions