frequently or repeatedly; much of the time
Also (archaic or US): oftentimes, (archaic) ofttimes- as often as not ⇒
quite frequently - every so often ⇒
at intervals - more often than not ⇒
in more than half the instances
repeated; frequent
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
of•ten /ˈɔfən, ˈɑfən; ˈɔftən, ˈɑf-/USA pronunciation
adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- many times;
frequently;
on numerous occasions:I've been to their home often.
of•ten
(ô′fən, of′ən; ôf′tən, of′-),USA pronunciation adv.
adj.
of′ten•ness, n.
- many times;
frequently:He visits his parents as often as he can. - in many cases.
adj.
- [Archaic.]frequent.
- Middle English oftin, variant before vowels of ofte oft 1300–50
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged 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.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged seldom.
- Often was pronounced with a t-sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the
(t)USA pronunciation 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)USA pronunciation for many speakers, and today
(ô′fən)USA pronunciation and
(ôf′tən)USA pronunciation [or
(of′ən)USA pronunciation and
(of′tən)USA pronunciation ] exist side by side. Although it is still sometimes criticized, often with a
(t)USA pronunciation is now so widely heard from educated speakers that it has become fully standard once again.
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