occasion

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /əˈkeɪʒən/ See IPA manual

Freq #3447

Meanings

1

noun
A particular time when something happens.

I have met her on several occasions, but never at a party.
2

noun
A special event or celebration.

Their wedding was a joyful occasion for the whole family.
3

noun
A good chance or opportunity to do something.

She seized the occasion to thank everyone who had helped her.
4

noun
A reason or cause for something.

There was no occasion for such rude behaviour.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a particular time when... instant juncture moment time

Word family

Forms occasionedoccasioningoccasions

Derived forms interoccasionoccasionaloccasionlessoccasionwearunoccasioned

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Idioms (1)

See all

rise to the occasion
to respond successfully when a difficult situation demands unusual effort or skill

Simplified etymology

Occasion dates from late Middle English and ultimately derives from Latin cadere ‘fall’.

Etymology

From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).

*ḱh₂d- Proto-Indo-European occasioun Middle English occasion Middle French occasiun Old French occāsiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# occasion

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈkeɪʒən/
**Frequency rank:** 3447

## Meanings
1. A particular time when something happens.
2. A special event or celebration.
3. A good chance or opportunity to do something.
4. A reason or cause for something.

## Examples
- I have met her on several occasions, but never at a party.
- Their wedding was a joyful occasion for the whole family.
- She seized the occasion to thank everyone who had helped her.
- There was no occasion for such rude behaviour.

## Derived Forms
- interoccasion
- occasional
- occasionless
- occasionwear
- unoccasioned

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ḱh₂d-
- Root: occasioun
- Root: occasion
- Root: occasiun
- Root: occāsiō

## Etymology
From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).

## AI Etymology
Occasion comes from Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”). The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d-, Middle English occasioun, Middle French occasion, Old French occasiun, and Latin occāsiō. Modern senses include a particular time when something happens and a special event or celebration. The wider word family includes derivatives such as interoccasion, occasional, occasionless, occasionwear, and unoccasioned.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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