oft

adverb

ˈȯft How to pronounce oft (audio)
Definition of oftnext
as in often
many times as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oft Sparkly, semiattired Lolla kids are this weekend swarming around such oft-deserted environs as Van Buren Street, Jackson Boulevard and State Street. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Hudson has oft been one to embrace her inner diva, sporting looks with volume that command attention. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 19 July 2026 Thus, his defense is oft overlooked, yet that’s part of his game that continues to impress as well. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 Bryce debuted on As the World Turns in 1982 as the charming but oft self-destructive Craig Montgomery, known for his manipulative schemes and unlucky romances. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oft
  1. often
  2. frequently
  3. constantly
  4. repeatedly
Adverb
  • So beginning in May of 2023, Julie did what friends of the missing so often do when the trail goes cold.
    — Dateline NBC, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Patients, doulas, and physicians are often responding to different versions of the same birth.
    — Debra Eluobaju, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of often
Adverb
  • The Leipzig-area airport briefly closed in early August after German authorities found an explosive-laden drone along with a detonator at the facility, which is also where Ukrainian transport aircraft frequently land.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This creates prime conditions for waking up more frequently at night, rising earlier than the alarm and having a tougher time falling asleep in the first place.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of frequently
Adverb
  • They are constantly and credibly threatened, their locations and details given out in menacing anonymous messages.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • There’s an inventiveness here that comes from the sprawl of the city — artists like myself who are constantly improvising, building their own ecosystems because nothing is handed to them.
    — Shelley Holcomb, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of constantly
Adverb
  • The attack comes as Russia has sharply intensified its air campaign in recent days, with air raid sirens sounding repeatedly across Kyiv and explosions and the rumble of air defenses punctuating the city throughout the day.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The states presented evidence that senior executives at Meta, intent on maximizing their company’s growth, had repeatedly set aside concerns about what its products were doing to its youngest users.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of repeatedly

Browse Nearby Words

of sorts
oft
often
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oft. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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