often

adverb

ˈȯf-tən How to pronounce often (audio)
Definition of oftennext
as in frequently
many times I seem to stumble often when I try to walk in high heels

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 often Video games are one of the world’s most dominant storytelling mediums, yet the writing is often dismissed — not always unfairly — as melodramatic, overly serious and occasionally very stupid. — Gene Park, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026 The area is often a popular site for recreational activities and holding protests. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Reddish skin is often visible in the gaps between the scales. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Ritchie’s process Multiple Gentlemen cast members have talked about Ritchie’s on-set process, which often calls on actors to learn new versions of scripts in the moment, or ad-lib to improve a scene. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for often
Recent Examples of Synonyms for often
  1. frequently
  2. constantly
  3. repeatedly
  4. always
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
Adverb
  • Dorsey was founded lab-grown, always marks its products as lab-grown, but has never marketed around the concept, Strachan says.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of always

Phrases Containing often

Browse Nearby Words

oft
often
oftentimes
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Cite this Entry

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

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