sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 

: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly

gunfire being heard sporadically

software updates that appear sporadically

Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.

—Rick Jervis

Even when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.

—Tim Beardsley

Examples of sporadically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Defender Phil Jones, who worked sporadically as a coach with United’s under-18s for free for 18 months, is set to leave to pursue a senior assistant role at another club. —Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 3 July 2025

While the mustachioed plumber and his brother became the face of the brand, Donkey Kong appears more sporadically — wavering occasionally between a hero and villain — and doesn’t even have a consistent lore. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025

The sporadically game, often reluctant fourth-wheel participant in all of this was Jenny, my billing specialist. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025

The incident shut down Red-Line service sporadically until about 8 a.m., Robertson said. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sporadically

• radically