/ əˈkeɪʒn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a particular time when sth 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.
[ C ] 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.
[ sing. ] occasion (for sth / doing sth) a suitable time for sth :
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.
[ U , sing. ] occasion (to do sth) | occasion (of / for sth) ( formal ) a reason or cause :
I've had no occasion to visit him recently.
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) .
•
IDIOMS
- on occasion(s)
—more at sense noun
■ verb
( formal ) to cause sth :
[ vn ]
The flight delay was occasioned by the need for a further security check.
[ vnn ]
The decision occasioned us much anxiety.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin occasio(n-) juncture, reason, from occidere go down, set, from ob- towards + cadere to fall.