WordWeb Online

1. An event that occurs at a critical time
   "it was needed only on special occasions";
   - juncture
    
2. A formal or official social gathering or ceremony of people
   "an occasion arranged to honour the president"; "the party was quite a social occasion";
   - affair, social occasion, function, social function
    
3. Reason or cause
   - reason, ground
    
4. The time of a particular event
   "on the occasion of his 60th birthday"
    
5. An opportunity to do something
   "there was never an occasion for her to demonstrate her skill"

1. Give occasion to

Derived forms: occasions, occasioning, occasioned

Type of: cause, chance, do, engender, happening, make, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, opportunity, rational motive, social event, time

Encyclopedia: Occasion