occasion 1 of 2

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

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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

3
4

occasion

2 of 2

verb

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
Over at The Pierre hotel, golden brocade looks opened and closed Bibhu Mohapatra’s show, which felt equally occasion-worthy. Ari Stark, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026 This isn’t a special-occasion restaurant. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The casting of new pro Jan Ravnik for the recent season 34 occasioned a classic Maks-ism that harkened back to his time on the show. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025 But with wind, only the effects of its occurrence are ever visible — the ripples on the river water, the waving motion of tree branches, the dust devils rising up from the sides of a desert dune, the dishevelment of clothes occasioned by a particularly violent gust. Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for occasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasion
Noun
  • He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
    Wally Hall, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • And yet, all throughout that time, Earth was not just inhabited, but life was thriving and rapidly evolving on the surface, despite all the physical, chemical, and biological changes that have occurred over those geologically long timescales.
    Big Think, Big Think, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And, conversely, what new opportunities are emerging for Israel’s creative growth?
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
  • When federal policy creates an opportunity to bring additional resources into a state’s education ecosystem, leaders would be foolish to ignore it.
    Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Honeycutt, of Moms Across America, noted that Kennedy’s role in lawsuits against Monsanto showed his clear support for MAHA causes.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The cause of death is currently undetermined and under investigation by police.
    Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Four years later, Bruna Moura finally made it to the start line of an event at the Olympic Games – the qualification race for the Sprint Classic.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Leaders used the event to assess both the drone’s performance and the readiness of troops assigned to fly and manage it.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The dragon is said to scare away bad spirits and bring good luck.
    Staff report, Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The brand has done that by bringing its key features—Art Deco architecture, innovative dining, a grand ballroom, the Peacock Alley lounge where guests gather at all times of the day—and infusing them with an unmistakably Japanese spirit.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In that moment, every detour, every loss and every lesson of my life seemed to fall into place.
    Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The Fire Horse Year is a moment of inner affirmation, a psychological reset that allows people to gather momentum for what comes next.
    Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Santa Margarita never had a chance.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Shoppers can also enter the Product of the Year sweepstakes for a chance to win a collection of this year’s winners.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Last week, Andrew spent his first birthday as a commoner in circumstances as degraded as earlier celebrations had been grand.
    Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Banchero must evolve from emerging star into nightly force, independent of circumstances.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Occasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasion. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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