continually

adverb

con·​tin·​u·​al·​ly kən-ˈtin-yü-ə-lē 

-yə-lē

: in a continual manner : without stopping or interruption

a security system that runs continually

We had endured a series of dark, gloomy, winter days, during which the sun had been continually hidden behind dense, rain clouds.

—George Thatcher

… I was too thoroughly swept away by this richly imagined and continually surprising novel to be concerned with cute comparisons.

—Edan Lepucki

They bickered continually, ignoring me as I worked around them.

—Paula Fox

: in a constantly repeated manner : over and over

being interrupted continually

She would write. I would read and edit, and sometimes shift the wordings, or change phrases or delete things. We would continually refine what was written.

—Herbie Hancock

Synonyms

• again and again
• constantly
• frequently
• hourly
• much
• oft
• often
• oftentimes
• ofttimes
• over and over
• repeatedly

Examples of continually in a Sentence

grew up in a time when children were continually being told to mind their manners

the computer program continually updates the file with new information

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s key is that this system isn’t static; the underlying AI learns over time, observing which content and pathways users engage with the most, continually optimizing the experience to be more effective and relevant. —Graham Gardner, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Ruhl tracks the way life continually presents to us opportunities to become more impassioned scholars of the human comedy. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025

But while her universe may be continually expanding, Tems still wants her impact on the world to be fulfilling. —Heran Mamo, Billboard, 14 May 2025

Weaving intimate storylines of its nuanced residents, tense debates at town meetings and forays into its rich history, Creede USA offers a hopeful, humanistic and urgent glimpse at a community that must continually negotiate its common ground. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contynuely, from continuel continual + -ly -ly entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above