occasional
Now and then
Occasional means happening now and then, not regularly or frequently: We have the occasional argument, but we get along well.
Something occasional happens when the occasion arises—an occasional table is used only when needed, occasional poetry is written for specific events.
An occasional smoker smokes infrequently.
The word suggests intermittent but not rare.
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
seldom · sparse · intermittent · rare · isolated · episodic · few · limited
Relaxed, not official
- relaxedFree of stress
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
easygoing · laid-back · carefree · leisurely · recreational · light-hearted · offhand · passing
Day of rest
- festivalOrganized public celebration
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- anniversaryRecurring memorial date
- birthdayAnnual date of origin
commemoration · feast · reunion · gathering · jubilee · special · event · tradition
Single-person sitting furniture
- tableHorizontal furniture surface
- accentRegional speech pattern
- sideLateral portion of something
- endFinal portion or cessation
console · lamp · decorative · sitting · parlor · drawing-room · guest · supplementary
sporadic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
scattered · seldom · sparse · intermittent · rare · isolated · episodic · few · limited · patchy
informal
Relaxed, not official
- relaxedFree of stress
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
impromptu · easygoing · laid-back · carefree · leisurely · recreational · light-hearted · offhand · passing · fleeting
holiday
Day of rest
- festivalOrganized public celebration
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- anniversaryRecurring memorial date
birthday · commemoration · feast · reunion · gathering · jubilee · special · event · tradition · observance
chair
Single-person sitting furniture
end · console · lamp · decorative · sitting · parlor · drawing-room · guest · supplementary · auxiliary
- intermittentintermittent, sporadic, periodic, on-off, discontinuous
- time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
- rarityrare, scarce, uncommon, infrequent, scant
- habit wordsdaily, regular, routine, habitual, chronic
- unevenuneven, irregular, unequal, nonuniform, asymmetric
- scarcityscarcity, scarce, shortage, scant, scanty
occasionalfrequent
Happening many times
constant · continual · continuous · incessant · persistent
occasionalregular
Occurring at fixed intervals
routine · systematic · predictable · scheduled · steady
occasionalpermanent
Fixed without end
stable · changeless · stationary · unvarying · uniform
- special occasionEvent worth commemorating
- rise to the occasionSucceed when challenged
- on occasionHappening at intervals
- rising to the occasion
- rise to occasionSucceed when challenged
- formal occasionsEvents demanding elegant dress