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

Those long evenings provoked tears of laughter, sometimes sorrow, and occasionally both in the course of a meal. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

Nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean, the estate became the family’s full-time residence during the pandemic, when Djokovic occasionally offered followers a glimpse inside through social media posts. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

The humor—dry, humane, occasionally absurd—is ever-present … The Vermont setting, spare and bracing, acts as a quiet amplifier of these idiosyncrasies, while Mason remains attuned to the natural world. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

The Case for Sugar Largely freed from the obligations of its wild twist, Sugar settles into a charming and goofy genre piece that occasionally achieves transcendence. — Britina Cheng, Vulture, 10 July 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