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

Is there a market for a smart home device costing more than $1,000 that moves around while hosting FaceTime calls, automatically handling room lights, and occasionally ordering the family cat to get off the dining table? — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

Add remaining cabbage leaves and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and lightly browned and cabbage is wilted, 18–22 minutes. — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

The charming alt-pop outfit Guster, founded 35 years ago at Tufts University in Massachusetts, occasionally involves symphony orchestras in their gigs. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026

The predicates swirl around, occasionally repeating themselves, unsettled, inexhaustible. — Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 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