1
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in event
something that happens
weddings are generally happy occasions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of occasion
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Puritans once banned the game shuffleboard, an occasion for gambling and drunkenness.
—Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
By the time of the 2004 Biennial, to which Violette contributed an ensemble of works situating the 1994 suicide of Kurt Cobain as an archetype of Romantic self-destruction, the neo-goth sensibility was prevalent enough to occasion a catalogue essay on the subject by cocurator Shamim Momin.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasion
Noun
Despite being shot on two different occasions in five minutes' time, Medlicott survived.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Puritans once banned the game shuffleboard, an occasion for gambling and drunkenness.
—Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Shuffling off this mortal coil need not occasion grief, however.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
By the time of the 2004 Biennial, to which Violette contributed an ensemble of works situating the 1994 suicide of Kurt Cobain as an archetype of Romantic self-destruction, the neo-goth sensibility was prevalent enough to occasion a catalogue essay on the subject by cocurator Shamim Momin.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for occasion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasion
Noun
-
Questions and comments will be moderated, read, and answered as time allows.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In that month, rates fell below 6% for the first time since 2022, according to Freddie Mac, which tracks rates weekly.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The two male offenders stood with their parents and attorneys and were given the opportunity to speak at the beginning and end, but both declined.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Riboua believes Israel could go even further than the Litani River, viewing now as its opportunity to rid itself of Hezbollah for good.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Actors and rock stars from the counterculture scene—including the band Jefferson Airplane—started donating money and cars to the cause.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
No arrests have been made at this time, and the fire marshal has not yet determined the cause of the fire.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Almanac introduced the beer during a public event at its Alameda brewery on March 21.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Since early February, residents of the Big Bend region have been outspoken about border wall plans — both on social media and through in-person events hosted in cities in Brewster and Presidio counties.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As Los Angeles County activists continue their search for the suspect or suspects who have shot multiple alley cats in South Los Angeles with a BB gun, PETA has offered a $5,000 reward in hopes of bringing the crimes to a stop.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This brings the total to five Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah reignited after the militant group fired rockets into Israel on March 2.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said the aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130, went down moments after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peru border.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.—
Nora Bradford,
Scientific American,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Big Ten had a league-record six teams reach the Sweet 16 and now has tied the tournament record with four teams in the Elite Eight, increasing its chances of breaking through for the league's first title in more than a quarter-century.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Participants get to try countless varieties of wine and get the chance to meet the growers themselves.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The agency’s Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives and crime scene investigators took over the case, and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
No further details were released on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasion. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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