Definitions for occasionəˈkeɪ ʒən

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

oc•ca•sionəˈkeɪ ʒən(n.)

a particular time, esp. as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences.
a special or important time, event, ceremony, etc.:
The party was quite an occasion.
a convenient or favorable time; opportunity:
a good occasion to take inventory.
the immediate or incidental cause or reason for some action or result:
What is the occasion for this uproar?
occasions, Obs. needs or necessities. necessary business matters.
(v.t.)to give occasion or cause for; bring about.

Idioms for occasion:

on occasion, once in a while; occasionally; periodically.
Category: Idiom

Origin of occasion:

1350–1400; ME (< OF) < L occāsiō see Occident

Princeton's WordNet

juncture, occasion(noun)
an event that occurs at a critical time
"at such junctures he always had an impulse to leave"; "it was needed only on special occasions"
affair, occasion, social occasion, function, social function(noun)
a vaguely specified social event
"the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"
occasion(noun)
reason
"there was no occasion for complaint"
occasion(noun)
the time of a particular event
"on the occasion of his 60th birthday"
occasion(verb)
an opportunity to do something
"there was never an occasion for her to demonstrate her skill"
occasion(verb)
give occasion to

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

occasion(noun)əkˈeɪʒən
an event or celebration
Thank you for helping us celebrate this happy occasion.; weddings, birthdays and other special occasions
occasionəkˈeɪʒən
a time when sth happens
On that occasion, the show was canceled because of the rain.

Wiktionary

occasion(Noun)
A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance.
At this point, she seized the occasion to make her own observation.
occasion(Noun)
An occurrence or state of affairs which causes some event or reaction; a motive or reason.
I had no occasion to feel offended, however.
occasion(Noun)
Something which causes something else; a cause.
occasion(Noun)
An occurrence or incident.
occasion(Noun)
A particular happening; an instance or time when something occurred.
I could think of two separate occasions when she had deliberately lied to me.
occasion(Noun)
Need; requirement, necessity.
occasion(Noun)
A special event or function.
Having people round for dinner was always quite an occasion at our house.
occasion(Verb)
To give occasion to; to cause; to produce; to induce; as, to occasion anxiety.
it is seen that the mental changes are occasioned by a change of polarity

Origin: From ocasion, from occasionem (accusative of occasio), noun of action from perfect passive participle occasus, from verb occado, from prefix ob- + verb cado.

Webster Dictionary

Occasion(noun)
a falling out, happening, or coming to pass; hence, that which falls out or happens; occurrence; incident
Occasion(noun)
a favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance; convenience
Occasion(noun)
an occurrence or condition of affairs which brings with it some unlooked-for event; that which incidentally brings to pass an event, without being its efficient cause or sufficient reason; accidental or incidental cause
Occasion(noun)
need; exigency; requirement; necessity; as, I have no occasion for firearms
Occasion(noun)
a reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion
Occasion(verb)
to give occasion to; to cause; to produce; to induce; as, to occasion anxiety