often

adverb

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of·ten | \ ˈȯ-fən

, ˈȯf-tən

Definition of often

: many times : frequently are often puzzled and sometimes annoyed by the ways of other peoples— W. A. Parker

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Examples of often in a Sentence

They go out to dinner fairly often. How often do you call your mother? The condition often returns even after treatment with antibiotics. I often take a walk during my lunch break. He travels more often than I do. The disease is diagnosed most often in children. They seem to be getting into arguments more and more often. It's not often that I get to enjoy a day off. Water the plants often enough to keep the soil moist.

Recent Examples on the Web Foreign firms are often on the wrong end of regulatory changes. — The Economist, "Foreign firms in India Multinationals love India more than it loves them," 4 July 2020 His jokes were often inappropriate, but never unkind. — Elizabeth Depompei, The Indianapolis Star, "A 'very kind' man: Mike Riley, prominent attorney and Hoosier political player, dies at 80," 3 July 2020 Now The thinking human is often two things: tech-averse and alone. — Wired Staff, Wired, "WIRED’s Ultimate Summer Reading List," 2 July 2020 Under Ohio law, anyone convicted of a crime must pay court costs – which in criminal trials can often be thousands of dollars. — Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, "Judges need not consider defendants’ ability to pay when charging them for court costs, Ohio Supreme Court rules," 2 July 2020 Peers at school can sometimes be mean; and often there are conflicts within the Baby-Sitters Club itself. — Hank Stuever, Washington Post, "Netflix’s fresh take on ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ celebrates the best qualities of a new generation," 2 July 2020 First, the protests occurred outside while activities at bars, restaurants and parties often are inside, where air is recirculated and the virus may be more easily spread. — Dan Horn, The Enquirer, "Protests probably didn't cause Hamilton County's recent coronavirus surge," 2 July 2020 At their best, pirate crews were often highly meritocratic. — National Geographic, "Ahoy! It's the real pirates of the Caribbean—and the Carolinas," 2 July 2020 And truth be told, judging by government tactics during the protests, there often isn't much that separates the land of the free from other countries. — Shikha Dalmia, TheWeek, "What makes America exceptional," 2 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'often.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.