sporadically
adverb
spo·rad·i·cal·ly
spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 
: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly
gunfire being heard sporadically
software updates that appear sporadically
Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.—
Rick Jervis
Rick JervisEven when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.—Tim Beardsley
Tim BeardsleyExamples of sporadically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After that, the two continued to see each other, but only sporadically — because of the holidays and Inghilterra going home to help his mom in Pennsylvania.
—Susan Young, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024
Thos Robinson/Getty Images The two kept in touch sporadically.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 June 2024
Hill and Waddle have sporadically participated in the offseason program.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024
The lineup produced sporadically over the second half of May and managed just nine runs on this mini-homestand.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 2 June 2024
The Biden administration should persuade China to curtail those imports by making clear that Washington will enforce sanctions on Chinese companies that continue to buy Iranian oil—a step the United States has taken only sporadically and selectively.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023
The Orioles had started the season somewhat sporadically — losing two of three to the Red Sox in Boston; taking two of three from the Rangers in Texas; and losing two of three at home to the Yankees.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024
Last year, about a third of the country’s 309,000 public swimming pools stayed closed or opened sporadically because of the shortage.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 16 May 2024
Still, that initial time trial inspired one of the oldest auto races in America, the Mount Washington Hillclimb, which has been sporadically held along the road since 1904.
—Teddy Brokaw, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
Susan Young, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024
Thos Robinson/Getty Images The two kept in touch sporadically.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 June 2024
Hill and Waddle have sporadically participated in the offseason program.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024
The lineup produced sporadically over the second half of May and managed just nine runs on this mini-homestand.
—Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 2 June 2024
The Biden administration should persuade China to curtail those imports by making clear that Washington will enforce sanctions on Chinese companies that continue to buy Iranian oil—a step the United States has taken only sporadically and selectively.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023
The Orioles had started the season somewhat sporadically — losing two of three to the Red Sox in Boston; taking two of three from the Rangers in Texas; and losing two of three at home to the Yankees.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024
Last year, about a third of the country’s 309,000 public swimming pools stayed closed or opened sporadically because of the shortage.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 16 May 2024
Still, that initial time trial inspired one of the oldest auto races in America, the Mount Washington Hillclimb, which has been sporadically held along the road since 1904.
—Teddy Brokaw, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sporadically.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sporadically
Cite this Entry
“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
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