Synonyms of oftnext
chiefly literary
: often
oft asked questions
an oft quoted statement

Examples of oft in a Sentence

as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap
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.
Many will remember Elliot Gould as the bumbling, oft-inappropriate father to Ross and Monica Geller on Friends, but the actor has also lent his talents to the NBC late-night show. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026 Dane receives more screen time, but his dissolute, oft-drunk character is hard to watch knowing the actor’s offscreen battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026 The show was described as an honest look at an oft-misunderstood job, according to an application for film incentives submitted to the state in May 2025 and reviewed by The News. Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026 The desert valley, which straddles the California-Nevada border, is oft-touted as the hottest, driest place on Earth. Owen Clarke, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oft

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German ofto often

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oft was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oft. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

oft

adverb
: often
an oft neglected factor

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