frequent

1 of 2

verb

frequented; frequenting; frequents

transitive verb

1
: to associate with, be in, or resort to often or habitually
a bar frequented by sports fans
a restaurant frequented by local politicians
2
archaic : to read systematically or habitually
frequentation noun
frequenter noun

frequent

2 of 2

adjective

fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
a
: common, usual
a frequent practice among these people
b
: happening at short intervals : often repeated or occurring
a bus making frequent stops
2
obsolete : full, thronged
3
: acting or returning regularly or often
a frequent visitor
a frequent customer
4
archaic : intimate, familiar
frequentness noun

Examples of frequent in a Sentence

Verb He began frequenting cheap bars. a neighborhood frequented by tourists a restaurant frequented by local politicians Adjective We made frequent trips to town. This bus makes frequent stops. She was a frequent visitor to the museum. He is one of our most frequent customers. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Not just a place for tourists, locals frequent the stand just as much, especially at night after a few cocktails. Claire Volkman, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 The only thing to note during this time is that the winds tend to pick up, which is why most people who frequent the beaches in Portugal own screen guards to keep the sand from whipping up around them and getting into their swimsuits while sunbathing. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2023 Designed by Ken Fulk, the club is likely to attract the same high-flying clientele that frequents other MFG outposts in the city, including the original Carbone and the new, noteworthy Torrisi. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2023 On this late September evening, the Peruvian producer has accomplished a seemingly impossible task: getting the audiophiles, techno zombies, and European house heads who frequent the sleek Brooklyn venue Public Records to actually dance. Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2023 By the early 1990s, Adm. Toole was frequenting Capitol Hill Books, where its founder, Kerr, lived on the top floor and ran the shop on the lower level. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 An owner of a speakeasy frequented by Ethiopians and Eritreans observed Kidane setting up such games. Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 Giorgio Baldi is a favorite among the Hollywood crowd, often frequented by celebrities like Rihanna and the Kardashian-Jenners. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023 For sharks that also frequent the shallower parts of the sea, their tapeta can darken during the day to deal with the brighter conditions – sort of like donning a pair of sunglasses. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Other frequent destinations included West Palm Beach, Florida; Aspen, Colorado; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and international destinations such as Aruba and the Virgin Islands. Chuck Collins, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2023 This eastern wall is less about fencing than about the ceaseless struggle between order and disorder that forced frequent maintenance. Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 For frequent travelers, Alaska also offers a flight subscription pass, which the airline first launched last year and has since expanded. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2023 Therefore, remote teams require frequent reminders of the company’s goals and regular tracking against targets, such as through a weekly progress scorecard. Doug Flaig, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Metro remembers asking his frequent collaborator Peter Lee Johnson for some maximalist violins in the theme of 2010-era Kanye West, and the resulting product formed the base of the song’s stirring instrumental. Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 The most frequent cause of gun deaths in real life are by suicide. Valerie Wu, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023 But our communications did become more frequent recently. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 The production is also razor-sharp, the work of his frequent producer and Recording Academy favorite Sebastian Krys, a seven-time Grammy winner. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frequent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, ample, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frequent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frequent

Cite this Entry

“Frequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frequent. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

frequent

1 of 2 adjective
fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
: happening often
made frequent trips to town
2
: regular entry 1 sense 3b, habitual
a frequent visitor to the museum
frequently adverb
frequentness noun

frequent

2 of 2 verb
fre·​quent frē-ˈkwent How to pronounce frequent (audio)
ˈfrē-kwənt
: to visit, associate with, or go to often
frequents the library
frequenter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frequent

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