often

UK: /ˈɒf^ən/, /ˈɒft^ən/

US: /ˈɔfən, ˈɑfən; ˈɔftən, ˈɑf-/

US: (ô′fən, of′ən; ôf′tən, of′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•ten /ˈɔfən, ˈɑfən; ˈɔftən, ˈɑf-/   adv. 

1. many times;
   frequently;
   on numerous occasions:
   I've been to their home often.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•ten  (ô′fən, of′ən; ôf′tən, of′-), adv. 

1. many times;
   frequently:
   He visits his parents as often as he can.
2. in many cases.

adj. 

3. [Archaic.] frequent.

• Middle English oftin, variant before vowels of ofte oft 1300–50

of′ten•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. repeatedly, customarily.
  Often, frequently, generally, usually refer to experiences that are customary.
  Often and frequently may be used interchangeably in most cases, but often implies numerous repetitions and, sometimes, regularity of recurrence:
  We often go there;
  
  frequently suggests esp. repetition at comparatively short intervals:
  It happens frequently.
  Generally refers to place and means universally:
  It is generally understood. He is generally liked;
  
  but it is often used as a colloquial substitute for usually. In this sense,
  generally, like usually, refers to time, and means in numerous instances.
  Generally, however, extends in range from the merely numerous to a majority of possible instances; whereas usually means practically always:
  The train is generally on time. We usually have hot summers.

Antonyms

• 1, 2. seldom.

Pronunciation

Often was pronounced with a t-sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the (t) came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor. Common use of a spelling pronunciation has since restored the (t) for many speakers, and today (ô′fən) and (ôf′tən) [or (of′ən) and (of′tən) ] exist side by side. Although it is still sometimes criticized, often with a (t) is now so widely heard from educated speakers that it has become fully standard once again.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

often / ˈɒf^ən ˈɒft^ən/ adverb

1. frequently or repeatedly; much of the time
   Also (archaic or US): oftentimes, (archaic) ofttimes
2. as often as not ⇒ quite frequently
3. every so often ⇒ at intervals
4. more often than not ⇒ in more than half the instances

adjective

1. repeated; frequent

Etymology: 14th Century: variant of oft before vowels and h