Synonyms of occasion

occasion 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈkā-zhən 

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

• time
• moment
• minute
• instant
• second
• while
• split second
• trice
• jiffy
• shake
• twinkle
• wink
• space
• flash
• spell
• stretch
• bit

2

as in opportunity

a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place

the substitute violinist rose to the occasion and performed the piece beautifully

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opportunity
• chance
• room
• opening
• way
• break
• shot
• play
• pass
• juncture

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cause
• reason
• antecedent
• determinant
• causation
• source
• causality
• consideration
• factor
• impetus
• mother
• spring
• origin
• instigation
• incentive
• stimulus
• inspiration
• be-all and end-all
• alpha and omega
• root

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• result
• issue
• effect
• outcome
• consequence
• development
• product
• sequence
• fate
• aftermath
• fruit
• corollary
• resultant
• outgrowth
• sequel
• upshot
• end
• conclusion
• aftereffect
• ramification
• denouement
• side effect
• repercussion
• by-product

4

as in event

something that happens

weddings are generally happy occasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• event
• circumstance
• thing
• incident
• episode
• occurrence
• time
• happening
• affair
• accident
• experience
• coincidence
• hap
• phenomenon
• milestone
• page
• landmark
• fluke
• adventure
• turning point
• emergency
• crisis
• news
• juncture
• freak
• achievement
• deed
• happenstance
• milepost
• happenchance
• co-occurrence
• tidings
• feat
• exploit

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cause
• bring
• prompt
• create
• generate
• do
• work
• produce
• effect
• result (in)
• spawn
• invoke
• make
• yield
• induce
• bring about
• effectuate
• draw on
• translate (into)
• found
• give rise to
• catalyze
• contribute (to)
• inaugurate
• encourage
• bring forth
• bring on
• introduce
• engender
• breed
• promote
• beget
• launch
• initiate
• decide
• pioneer
• further
• determine
• start
• begin
• forward
• institute
• conduce (to)
• set up
• establish
• advance
• set
• enact
• render
• father
• develop
• turn out
• cultivate
• foster
• innovate
• nurture
• nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limit
• restrict
• impede
• put down
• suppress
• check
• dampen
• quash
• repress
• arrest
• subdue
• quell
• restrain
• stifle
• curb
• smother
• crush
• control
• inhibit
• retard
• rein (in)
• crack down (on)
• can
• squelch
• kill
• clamp down (on)
• still
• squash
• abolish
• destroy
• liquidate
• quench
• extinguish
• demolish
• snuff (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of occasion

Noun

Whenever the household experienced a milestone — a reunion, for example — Dick and Bunny would put out banners to mark the occasion. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Starting with Celsius, the conversation around energy drinks has changed, widening their audience and the number of occasions where they can be consumed, Truist’s Greer said. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

This apparent drift has already occasioned many think pieces; the video game and internet culture website Aftermath just dedicated an entire week to celebrating the return of wokeness. — Miles Klee, Wired News, 31 Mar. 2026

He was found guilty in January of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. — Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing occasion

• on occasion