occasion 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈkā-zhən How to pronounce occasion (audio)
Definition of occasionnext
1
as in time
a particular point at which an event takes place on that occasion, I didn't actually meet your father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in opportunity
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place the substitute violinist rose to the occasion and performed the piece beautifully

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3
as in cause
someone or something responsible for a result the missing money proved to be the occasion of much strife between the two brothers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in event
something that happens weddings are generally happy occasions

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occasion

2 of 2

verb

as in to cause
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) the announcement concerning the change in scheduling occasioned much confusion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of occasion
Noun
Novi Sad was the scene of clashes with police and Vucic’s supporters on several occasions during protests. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 This pliability has made the app particularly popular for casual, real-time occasions—such as finding the ideal hostess gift for a weekend visit or selecting a thoughtful token for a friend—without resorting to generic fallback options. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
He was later released on bail and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally chok[ing a] person without consent and common assault. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 He was charged with three offenses, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally choking a person without consent and common assault. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasion
  1. time
  2. opportunity
  3. cause
  4. event
  5. bring
  6. moment
  7. chance
  8. circumstance
Noun
  • In the debate Thursday night, Sullivan highlighted his record defending Alaska's energy and military interests in the state and attacked Peltola as ineffective during her time in office.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Larsson has missed practice time and the final three preseason games because of his illness, and Smith missed the entire preseason after straining his calf during training camp.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of time
Noun
  • When the cast visited Japan in March 2025, Mystery Channel hosted a special event attended by 270 lucky fans chosen from applicants nationwide, giving them the opportunity to meet and interact with the cast.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • With Marcadé and now Without Production, Platform6 brings together the talent and the creative excellence to capture this opportunity.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of opportunity
Noun
  • As my colleague Clare Malone has reported in this magazine, Weiss first came to public attention in college, as a consequence of her support for Israel and consistent denigrations of the Palestinian cause.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The cause of the blaze remains unclear, but a large number of patients have been taken to the hospital.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of cause
Noun
  • YouTube Europe boss Pedro Pina, a fixture at these events, reminded producers that the platform won’t take work away from them by entering the production game.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Her cousin, played by Azam Quadri, turns up without warning after 15 years away, and his visit brings back the events that once split the family.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Verb
  • Creality's approach is rather different, swapping smaller nozzle assemblies instead of complete print heads, and potentially bringing the benefits of multi-nozzle printing to a more affordable machine.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • For the Bills fans, the store opening is bringing a slice of home and Upstate New York.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of bring
Noun
  • Catch up on breaking news, exclusive interviews, political analysis, original reporting, and standout moments — all in one place, every week.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These are but moments in an auteur’s widescreen epic that never sits still.
    — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of moment
Noun
  • Because the phenomenon typically reaches its greatest strength around December, NOAA says there’s a 75% chance that the current El Niño will exceed the strength of previous events dating back to at least 1950.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The strongest upper-level forcing will remain northwest of DFW, creating a sharp gradient in rain chances.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of chance
Noun
  • These circumstances, too, create a perception of the world as unpredictable and may lead people to seek escape via alcohol or other drugs.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That's why the exact circumstances of that particular infection remain unclear.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of circumstance

Phrases Containing occasion

Browse Nearby Words

obviousness
occasion
occasional
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Cite this Entry

“Occasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasion. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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