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

• frequently
• constantly
• repeatedly
• always

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

The clean beauty space has often been compared to the Wild West. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues. —Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

September and October often see some of the busiest activity for hurricanes because sea surface temperatures can be at their highest, Zierden said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025

Gomez still goofed off often with Martin, her seatmate to the right, and Short. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for often

• boffin
• coffin
• offen
• soften
• tryptophan

Kids Definition

often

adverb

of·​ten ˈȯ-fən  ˈȯf-tən 

: many times : frequently