verb
ocasionar
cause
Definition & meaning
Ocasionar means to cause, bring about, or give rise to something, often an unintended or undesirable result.
- La tormenta ocasionó daños. — The storm caused damage.
- El retraso ocasionó varios problemas. — The delay caused several problems.
Grammar & Word origin
Ocasionar is a regular -ar verb. It is usually transitive: it takes a direct object expressing what was caused.
It is formed from ocasión (“occasion” or “opportunity”) and the verb-forming suffix -ar.
Synonyms & antonyms
- causar — “to cause”; a broad, common synonym.
- provocar — “to provoke” or “bring about”; often suggests a more direct or noticeable effect.
- generar — “to generate”; emphasizes producing a result.
There is no exact antonym, but evitar (“to prevent” or “avoid”) can express the opposite idea in context.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
La tormenta podría ocasionar daños en las viviendas.verb
The storm could cause damage to the homes.
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