ENGLISH
REFERENCE

occasional

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //əˈkeɪʒənəɫ// UK //əkˈeɪʒənəl// oc·ca·sion·al

adj. happening sometimes, but not very often or on a regular schedule.

adj. occurring, appearing, or done infrequently and irregularly.


SIMPLE

I enjoy the occasional glass of wine with dinner.

CONTEXTUAL

The quiet afternoon was interrupted only by the occasional sound of a car passing on the street below.

COMPLEX

Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time for the occasional weekend trip to the mountains to clear his head and reconnect with nature.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English occasyonal, from Medieval Latin occāsiōnālis and Old French ocasionel. By surface analysis, occasion + -al.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; functions as an attributive adjective in most common contexts.

Pitfall

He visits us occasional.He visits us occasionally.Learners often use the adjective form when the adverb 'occasionally' is required to modify a verb.

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