Occasions vs Times

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Occasions

Times

Top 1,000 (very common)

	Occasions	Times
Pronunciation		🇬🇧 //taɪmz// 🇺🇸 //taɪmz//
Meaning		periods or occasions in history or life
Example	-	In ancient times, people relied on the sun to tell time.
Register	-	Neutral
How common	-	Top 1,000 (very common)
Collocations	-	good times, hard times, at times, ancient times, modern times
Antonyms	-	inactivity, stillness
Common mistakes	-	Confused with 'time' - 'times' refers to multiple instances., Using 'time' when referring to various occasions., Omitting 'the' before 'times' in some contexts.
Usage notes	-	Used in various contexts, such as historical events ('in ancient times') or schedules ('at times'). Avoid in overly formal writing.

See it in real clips

and they always manage to ruin special occasions.

Occasions

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

and evil times.

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

How many times have I told you? No cIimbing.

You had your time.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

and evil times.

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

How many times have I told you? No cIimbing.

Times

Frequently asked questions: Occasions vs Times

What's the difference between Occasions and Times?

Occasions: Times: periods or occasions in history or life

Can I use Occasions and Times interchangeably?

Not always. Occasions and Times are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.