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

Make a point of occasionally turning off notifications or taking a walk without any smart devices — anything to reset your mind. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026

But several rounds of peace talks hosted by Turkey in November failed to produce a lasting agreement, and the two sides have occasionally traded fire since then. —Abdul Qahar Afghan, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026

Highly disciplined and uncompromising, she is dedicated to serving the realm, occasionally at the expense of her own well-being. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026

Highly disciplined and uncompromising, she is dedicated to serving the realm, occasionally at the expense of her own wellbeing. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 2 Mar. 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