occasionally

adverb

oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nə-lē 

: on occasion : now and then

dines out occasionally

We occasionally see deer in the field.

Synonyms of occasionally

• sometimes

Examples of occasionally in a Sentence

Occasionally, things don't go as planned.

Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.

Recent Examples on the Web

For centuries, the bugs have horrified homeowners and occasionally panicked the public. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

The director occasionally performed small roles in his films, and had producing credits for, among others, Cinderella Liberty, For The Boys, James Dean and Even Money. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

His father owned a fruit and vegetable stall at Leicester Market, where Lineker occasionally helped. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

How these brain networks communicate, and occasionally miscommunicate, is one of the central questions researchers are trying to answer about functional neurological disorder. — Mackenzi Moore, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English occasionaly "on a particular occasion, sometimes," from occasyonal occasional + -ly -ly entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing occasionally

• very occasionally

Kids Definition

occasionally

adverb

oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly -ē 

: from time to time

occasionally goes to the movies