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

The flair MacTaggart puts into her creations is a touch of cheeky humor and, occasionally, profanity. —Kaitlyn Huamani, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026

Calhoun still occasionally talks to Emt, who took up wheelchair curling in 2013. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026

After their excellent but somewhat overlooked 2023 album 3D Country — which occasionally evokes the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion — the band was feeling dispirited. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026

That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 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