occasionally
19 synonyms and 2 antonyms for occasionally, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — Now and then; sometimes, but not often.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use occasionally
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English occasionally, occasionaly, occasyoneely, occasyonly, equivalent to occasional + -ly.
Full origin of occasionally →Frequently asked questions
What does “occasionally” mean?
The word “occasionally” means now and then; sometimes, but not often. In plain terms, sometimes, but not regularly.
How do you pronounce “occasionally”?
“Occasionally” is pronounced uh-KAY-zhuh-nuh-lee (/əˈkeɪʒənəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “occasionally” in a sentence?
Here is “occasionally” used in a sentence: “We occasionally go for a walk along the river.”
What is another word for “occasionally”?
Words with a similar meaning to “occasionally” include at times, ever and anon, every once in a while, every now and then, every so often and from time to time.
What is the opposite of “occasionally”?
The opposite of “occasionally” — its antonyms — are usually and rarely.
What part of speech is “occasionally”?
“Occasionally” is an adverb.
Is “occasionally” a common word?
“Occasionally” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between occasionally and sometimes?
Both mean not always, but "occasionally" sits lower on the frequency scale, suggesting now and then rather than with any regularity. A rough ordering runs: always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, never. "I sometimes cook" implies more frequency than "I occasionally cook."
What is the difference between occasionally and rarely?
"Occasionally" is neutral and simply means now and then, without judgment about how little that is. "Rarely" is stronger and emphasises that something almost never happens. Saying you occasionally eat out sounds ordinary; saying you rarely eat out stresses how uncommon it is.
Where does occasionally go in a sentence?
Like most frequency adverbs, "occasionally" usually sits in mid-position, before the main verb: "I occasionally walk to work." Unlike stricter frequency adverbs such as "always," it also moves comfortably to the start or end of a sentence: "Occasionally, we go camping" or "We go camping occasionally."
How do you spell occasionally correctly?
The correct spelling is o-c-c-a-s-i-o-n-a-l-l-y: double c, a single s, and double l. Common misspellings include "ocasionally" (missing a c) and "occassionally" (doubling the s), so the rule of thumb is two c's, one s.