oftentimes

adverb

of·​ten·​times ˈȯ-fən-ˌtīmz 

ˈȯf-tən-

: on many occasions : often

The quickness of the hand oftentimes deceives the eye.

—W. V. Quine

Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results.

—Herman Melville

Oftentimes they were asleep, but occasionally might be heard talking together …

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

A man's ignorance sometimes is not only useful, but beautiful – while his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless …

—Henry David Thoreau

Oftentimes cyclists mistake dehydration for hunger.

—Brian Wansink

Did you know?

Despite its archaic, literary ring, oftentimes is quite alive today. In fact, it seems to be more popular now than it was in past decades, appearing frequently both in written expression and in speech. Oftentimes was first used in the 14th century (the same century that gave us often), and its meaning hasn't changed—as meanings oftentimes will—in all that time. It was formed as an extension of its slightly older synonym ofttimes. Today ofttimes is less common, but oft (which comes from Old English and also means "often" or "frequently") is popular in combination with past participles, as in oft-praised.

Synonyms

• often
• frequently

Examples of oftentimes in a Sentence

Oftentimes, he is the only man in the aerobics class.

children oftentimes don't realize how quickly time passes

Recent Examples on the Web

In a world that oftentimes feels too connected, Kennedy didn't think there was a real online network available for moms. —Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Oct. 2025

While oftentimes roundabouts are known to improve traffic flow and to be more cost-effective, the main reason for their popularity is safety. —Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 8 Oct. 2025

And when figurative financial belts are tightened, nonessential goods like snacks oftentimes land on the chopping block (which, in turn, could lead to literal belt-tightening). —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025

The Best Way to Talk to Your Neighbor About Fence Issues As with many social dilemmas, starting the conversation is oftentimes the hardest part. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oftentimes

• betimes
• enzymes
• lifetimes
• mealtimes
• ofttimes
• oximes
• pastimes
• sometimes
• sublimes
• chimes
• climbs
• climes

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Kids Definition

oftentimes

adverb

of·​ten·​times -ˌtīmz 

variants or ofttimes

ˈȯf(t)-ˌtīmz 

: often