occasions 1 of 2

noun

plural of occasion
1
as in times
a particular point at which an event takes place on that occasion, I didn't actually meet your father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place the substitute violinist rose to the occasion and performed the piece beautifully

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in causes
someone or something responsible for a result the missing money proved to be the occasion of much strife between the two brothers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in events
something that happens weddings are generally happy occasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

occasions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of occasion
as in prompts
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

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 occasions
Noun
On some occasions, threats arose after inspectors detected pests and were pressured not to report them, said an official familiar with their work who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026 On at least two occasions, Beckham looked to have worked his way free of coverage, but the ball didn’t go his way. — Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Johnston and Sullivan challenged Triples Alley, but on both occasions, Oracle Park’s spacious dimensions and San Francisco’s cold weather kept those balls in the ballpark. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 Its Gift Set Collection brings several products together for baby showers, birthdays, or any other occasions when relatives or friends may not know which individual item to choose. — Emma Clapp, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 During their dating years, while Middleton wasn’t fully in the spotlight as a royal yet, she was still photographed by paparazzi on several occasions. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 Esponda almost came off the beam on two occasions, but showed incredible fight to salvage the routine. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 On multiple occasions, Drake has given fans thousands of dollars in cash. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, model Bella Hadid has sported it on several occasions with her off-duty looks. — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
Admissions dipped around mid-March and again in early June, when the market reached its lowest point of the year, but both occasions the downturn lasted only briefly before business rebounded. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occasions
  1. times
  2. opportunities
  3. causes
  4. events
  5. prompts
  6. moments
  7. chances
  8. reasons
Noun
  • Titan’s nitrogen-rich atmosphere is four times denser than Earth’s, allowing the car-sized Dragonfly drone’s eight rotors to easily fly between promising landing sites every Titan day (16 Earth days) to collect and study samples.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Only Middlesbrough made their regains higher upfield, on average, and Coventry caught opponents offside 136 times last campaign — the most since Barnsley (144) and Bournemouth (143) four seasons ago.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of times
Noun
  • European observers will see the moon low in the western sky before dawn, creating dramatic opportunities to see and photograph the eclipsed moon above city skylines, coastlines and mountain landscapes as morning twilight begins.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The fair is an easy way for children, families, adults and seniors to find volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and schedules, a news release said.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of opportunities
Noun
  • Nina Smith, a former Buttigieg adviser who now works closely with progressive causes, disagreed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In 2010, some of the wealthiest people in the world signed the Giving Pledge – a public commitment to donate the majority of their fortunes to charitable causes.
    — Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of causes
Noun
  • Still, the investigation into his murder had seemed to grow so cold that even many close to the events of that night believed the case would never be solved, much less prosecuted.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There have been concerns about safety at these large-scale events.
    — Paul Burton, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of events
Verb
  • This rapid sale prompts questions about Walter's motivations, including a potential SEC investigation into his private credit holdings and the NBA's restrictive salary cap.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the sketch, Washington’s announcement prompts a skeptical colonist (David) to imagine a future leader who ignores the Constitution, uses the presidency for personal gain and seeks to remain in power.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of prompts
Noun
  • Plaques commemorate great Yankee moments, as does the iconic facade that was stationed above the original entrance.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Ewing cut down another from left field moments later, and the New York Mets held on for a 2-1 victory Monday night.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of moments
Noun
  • His pure skill level isn’t high-end, but Orlov can make plays under pressure and create some chances.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Research shows those building codes reduce the chances homes will be destroyed.
    — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of chances
Noun
  • Chelsea need to be active sellers, and not simply for financial reasons.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Only medical reasons can be used in justifying concurrent surrogacy, and a qualified physician must attest to them in writing.
    — Arthur L. Caplan, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasons

Browse Nearby Words

occasioning
occasions
occiput
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Cite this Entry

“Occasions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occasions. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of occasions for Spanish Speakers

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