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occasion
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/əˈkeɪʒ(ə)n/ 
| singular | occasion |
| plural | occasions |
- 1[countable] a time at which something happenson one occasion (=once):
On one occasion we had to walk all the way home.
on an earlier occasion:We tested a similar product on an earlier occasion.
on occasion (=sometimes):He continues to work with us on occasion.
- a.[singular] an appropriate time for somethingoccasion for:
Her promotion was an occasion for great celebration.
not the occasion for something (=not an appropriate time for something):This is not the occasion for such a detailed analysis.
occasion for doing something:Victory provided him with the occasion for declaring himself king.
occasion for someone to do something:This will be an occasion for us all to make a new start.
- b.[countable] a special or important time or event
The meeting of the two heads of state was a historic occasion.
special occasion:The dress is perfect for a special occasion.
mark an occasion (=celebrate it):We should mark the occasion in some way.
on the occasion of something (=when something special happens):There was a celebration on the occasion of the school’s anniversary.
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This is the American English definition of occasion. View British English definition of occasion.
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