often

adverb

of·​ten ˈȯf-tən  ˈȯ-fən 

: many times : frequently

are often puzzled and sometimes annoyed by the ways of other peoples

—W. A. Parker

Synonyms

• again and again
• constantly
• continually
• frequently
• hourly
• much
• oft
• oftentimes
• ofttimes
• over and over
• repeatedly

Examples of often in a Sentence

They go out to dinner fairly often.

How often do you call your mother?

The condition often returns even after treatment with antibiotics.

I often take a walk during my lunch break.

He travels more often than I do.

The disease is diagnosed most often in children.

They seem to be getting into arguments more and more often.

It's not often that I get to enjoy a day off.

Water the plants often enough to keep the soil moist.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their arc often follows a common trajectory, from abusing prescription painkillers to heroin to fentanyl. —Maurice Tamman, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024

Pockets are tempting to fill, and travelers often forget to fully empty them, which means setting off the alarm and holding up the security line. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2024

Most often, they’re stoked to see Judy, Cardellini’s homicidal but loveable character from showrunner Liz Feldman’s black comedy Dead to Me, which ran for three seasons on Netflix from 2019 to 2022. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024

The massive fraud is often referred to as Arizona's sober-living crisis. —Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, alteration of oft

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing often

• all too often
• as often as not
• every so often
• more often than not

Kids Definition

often

adverb

of·​ten ˈȯ-fən  ˈȯf-tən 

: many times : frequently