Skip to content
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

occasional

/əˈkeɪʒənəl/

Press play to hear how to pronounce occasional.

American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does occasional mean?

adjective

  1. Occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time, but not often; incidental.
  2. Created for a specific occasion.
  3. Intended for use as the occasion requires.
More meanings (2)

adjective

  1. Acting in the indicated role from time to time.

noun

  1. A person who does something only occasionally.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/əˈkeɪʒənəl/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

These garrisons must either be furnished by occasional detachments from the militia, or by permanent corps in the pay of the government.
Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James MadisonThe Federalist PapersProject Gutenberg ebook #18
At last he saw it, the thing the little monkeys so feared—the man-brute of which the Claytons had caught occasional fleeting glimpses.
Edgar Rice BurroughsTarzan of the ApesProject Gutenberg ebook #78
More book examples (3)
Spots of sunshine fell on the white cloth and blue china, the bees and an occasional stray butterfly came searching for food.
Gene Stratton-PorterA Girl of the LimberlostProject Gutenberg ebook #125
“But you must admit, Rachel, that we so seldom think of anything but ourselves that an occasional twinge is really rather pleasant.”
Virginia WoolfThe Voyage OutProject Gutenberg ebook #144
The proceedings in the law-courts had reached their consciousness, but as a distant sound and an occasional missive which they hardly understood.
Thomas HardyJude the ObscureProject Gutenberg ebook #153