occasionaloc‧ca‧sion‧al /əˈkeɪʒənəl/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective [only before noun] 
He made occasional visits to London. They had an occasional coffee together after shopping. He only has occasional use of a car. We should have enough money left for the occasional trip.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- occasional poems
- an occasional smoker
- I didn't know Terry very well, but we went out for an occasional drink together.
- I drink the occasional glass of wine, but not much else.
- She still has occasional headaches.
- The prisoners are allowed occasional visits from their relatives.
- The street was silent except for the occasional burst of laughter from one of the workmen.
- Alcoholism, depression and an intensity of Presbyterian self-chastisement were abundantly in evidence, with the occasional nervous collapse or suicide.
- Even with the occasional gaffe, marketers say placing products in movies is an increasingly important way to enhance exposure.
- For some it is all the singing they do, other than the occasional hymn or Mass setting.
- In the remaining 10 control patients, there were occasional positive cells scattered throughout the lamina propria.
- One of the Kissers was still dropping an occasional tiny egg.
- The occasional car which drove up Prinzenstrasse during the afternoon received similar treatment, with identical results.
- The occasional pint of beer at skittles night is allowed too.
- The only sound in the house is the occasional last convulsive sob from the top of the stairs.
Longman Language Activatorwords for describing something that happens sometimes but not often
· The prisoners are allowed occasional visits from their relatives.the occasional/an occasional · The street was silent except for the occasional burst of laughter from one of the workmen.· I didn't know Terry very well, but we went out for an occasional drink together.
: the odd drink/game/occasion etc especially spoken a few drinks, games etc at various times, but not often and not regularly: · Jim and I have the odd game of cards together.· We get the odd complaint from customers, but mostly they're very satisfied.
happening for short irregular periods, often with long periods in between, not continuously: · She is the sort of person who works with intense but intermittent effort.· The afternoon will be warm but unsettled, with intermittent light rain.
happening sometimes, usually every few months, years etc: · She suffered periodic bouts of depression.· Periodic failures of the olive crop kept the country in constant debt.· The budget is subject to periodic review.
: casual user/visitor etc someone who does not often use something, visit somewhere etc: · Casual users of the library may not realize that they now need a computerized ticket.· Charging an entry fee for museums will not affect the casual visitor very much.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY We should have enough money left for the occasional trip.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Despite the occasional lapse, this was a fine performance by the young saxophonist.
We should have enough money left for the occasional trip. Despite the occasional lapse, this was a fine performance by the young saxophonist.· During the interview, he made only occasional references to his forthcoming autobiography.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· In this book only occasional direct reference has been made to the results of numerical modelling.· Already emaciated, he would take only occasional bites of food and seemed to shake violently when he drank fluids.· It might not be worth adding a card to a machine which needs only occasional access to the network.· A slight breeze picks up and you see only occasional flashes of distant lightning that still illuminate the whole sky.
· There are very occasional exceptions to this round condemnation.· There are very occasional technical lapses but nothing distressing.· A very occasional half tablet might be prescribed by the doctor to restore a habit of good sleep that has been broken.
NOUN· The sealed tender system has, in the past, alternated with the occasional foray by the MoD into auctions.· The rioters did make the occasional foray, but north of the Santa Monica Freeway the thin blue line swiftly grew thicker.
· The diagrams that accompany the text are usually excellent with only the occasional lapse.· Some people think Sawyer would make a lousy anchor because of her occasional lapses into tabloid tawdriness.
· Four chairs pushed into a corner looked distinctly Chippendale, as did a couple of desks and occasional tables.· Picture frames can make striking displays on occasional tables, window sills or other low-level areas.· He removed the vase and put it on the occasional table next to the wedding photograph.· A Victorian stuff-over settee made £320; a mahogany hexagonal occasional table, £200 and a Sheffield plate tea urn, £170.· She put him on to researching the availability of marble vanity-unit tops and free-standing occasional tables.· It was rather exquisitely decorated, and furnished with chairs, occasional tables and a cupboard which appeared to be eighteenth-century antiques.
· Some members of the elite find his occasional use of crude language offensive.· It may be of most value for occasional use, in known responders, to save embarrassment when sleeping away from home.· An exception is the occasional use of the latter where authentic detail is more accessible.· Teachers may find history games valuable for occasional use.· A cat and the occasional use of warfarin keep the rats and mice more or less in check.· One marriage counsellor described her occasional use of role reversal.· Just a room for occasional use over a few months, cash in advance of course, sorry no baby-sitting.· These services may also be available for occasional use.
· Over the years I made the occasional visit to Cheltenham.· Even the occasional visit is tendered.· There were occasional visits and/or correspondence.· Anglers paying only occasional visits are unlikely to realise that anything is wrong until all the fish disappear.· Such occasional visits could be important.· It was sad to see them all go, but a wonderful joy it is when they all come for occasional visits.
WORD FAMILYnounoccasionadjectiveoccasionaladverboccasionally
happening sometimes but not often or regularly: He made occasional visits to London. They had an occasional coffee together after shopping. He only has occasional use of a car. We should have enough money left for the occasional trip.