occasionally

adverb

oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nə-lē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: on occasion : now and then
dines out occasionally
We occasionally see deer in the field.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Orionid meteor shower, which peaks in mid-October annually, is set to reach its maximum activity soon — offering skywatchers a dazzling celestial spectacle, as the fast-moving meteors occasionally become fireballs, appearing brighter than any of the stars or planets in the night sky. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025 The men trained together occasionally at a Thai-boxing gym. Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025 His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025 Chelsea occasionally bypassed the press with Gusto, a right-back playing in midfield, and captain Reece James interchanging positions, but were not helped by sloppy moments. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for occasionally

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Occasionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occasionally. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

occasionally

adverb
oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly -ē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: from time to time
occasionally goes to the movies

More from Merriam-Webster on occasionally

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