Word
occasional
Phoneticsoc·ca·sion·al, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈkeɪʒənəɫ/
UK/əkˈeɪʒənəl/
Definitions
01happening sometimes
B1 · Intermediate
adj. happening from time to time, but not regularly or very often.
adj. occurring or appearing at irregular intervals; not frequent or constant.
“We still have the occasional argument, but generally we get along very well.”
“Despite the overall improvement in the economy, the region still suffers from occasional power outages during the peak of summer.”
Synonyms
02for a specific event
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. made or used for a special event or a particular reason.
adj. created or intended for a specific occasion or particular purpose.
“The poet wrote an occasional poem to celebrate the king's birthday.”
“The composer was commissioned to produce an occasional piece for the opening of the new national theatre.”
Synonyms
03doing something sometimes
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. doing a job or a hobby only once in a while.
adj. acting in a specific role or capacity only from time to time.
“He is an occasional painter who only picks up a brush when he is on holiday.”
“As an occasional contributor to the Sunday papers, she maintained her profile in the literary world without the pressure of a weekly column.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04a person
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal
n. a person who does something only once in a while.
n. a person who engages in an activity or attends an event only occasionally.
“The pub was quiet, filled only with a few regulars and the odd occasional.”
“The church congregation consisted of a small core of devoted members and a larger group of occasionals who attended only on major holidays.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “occasional” in context.
Verb
01. enjoy an occasional glass
“They enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner on the weekends.”
verb + adj + noun
02. make an occasional exception
“The manager decided to make an occasional exception to the dress code for the charity event.”
verb + adj + noun
03. permit an occasional deviation
“The strict protocol does permit an occasional deviation if safety is not compromised.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. rare and occasional
“The species is known for its rare and occasional appearances in the northern wetlands.”
adj + and + adj
Noun
05. occasional lapse in concentration
“An occasional lapse in concentration is expected during a twelve-hour shift.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
06. occasional outburst of anger
“Despite his calm demeanor, he was prone to the occasional outburst of anger when under pressure.”
adj + noun + of + noun
07. occasional treat for the children
“We bought some ice cream as an occasional treat for the children after their exams.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
08. occasional visitor to the gallery
“She is an occasional visitor to the gallery, usually attending only the major exhibitions.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Hotels were used as an occasional, temporary housing fix for asylum seekers pre-Covid, but became the default option in place of flats at the very start of the pandemic.” “Future work will focus on improving the measurement of short-term rental activity, including better ways to distinguish occasional home sharing from listings that function as de facto commercial rentals.” “Our research suggests that pre-K through 12th grade teachers widely use YouTube as a staple of classroom instruction – not as an occasional supplement.” “It is inevitable that accidents will happen, and that bad actors will cause occasional losses.” Etymology
From Middle English occasyonal, from Medieval Latin occāsiōnālis and Old French ocasionel. By surface analysis, occasion + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/occasional