frequency
FREEK-wuhn-see
Frequency (noun) means How often something happens over a given period of time. Example: “The frequency of storms has increased noticeably over the past decade.”
noun
1
How often something happens over a given period of time.
"The frequency of storms has increased noticeably over the past decade."
"The frequency of the trains drops sharply late at night."
"Checking your email with such frequency can distract you from your work."
2
The rate at which a wave repeats, used especially for radio and sound signals.
"The radio station broadcasts on a frequency of 101.5 megahertz."
"Tune the receiver to the right frequency to hear the broadcast clearly."
"Bats use sounds at a frequency too high for people to hear."
How to use frequency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow often something happens, or the rate of a repeating wave (like radio signals).
Common pairings
high frequency
radio frequency
increase in frequency
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Word forms
- Plural
- frequencies
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The _____ of storms has increased noticeably over the past decade.
Etymology
From Latin frequentia ("crowd, throng"), related to frequens ("frequent").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for frequency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
emergency
residency
See all rhymes for frequency →
Frequently asked questions
What does “frequency” mean?
The word “frequency” means how often something happens over a given period of time. In plain terms, how often something happens, or the rate of a repeating wave (like radio signals).
How do you pronounce “frequency”?
“Frequency” is pronounced FREEK-wuhn-see (/ˈfɹiːkwənsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “frequency” in a sentence?
Here is “frequency” used in a sentence: “The frequency of storms has increased noticeably over the past decade.”
What is another word for “frequency”?
Words with a similar meaning to “frequency” include freq.
What is the opposite of “frequency”?
The opposite of “frequency” — its antonyms — is period.
What part of speech is “frequency”?
“Frequency” is a noun.
Where does the word “frequency” come from?
The word “frequency” comes from Latin. From Latin frequentia ("crowd, throng"), related to frequens ("frequent").
Is “frequency” a common word?
“Frequency” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between frequency and period?
In physics, the two are inverses: frequency is how many times a wave repeats per unit of time, while the period is how long one complete cycle takes. A wave with a high frequency therefore has a short period.
What unit is frequency measured in?
Wave frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), where one hertz equals one cycle per second. Radio stations, for example, broadcast at frequencies measured in kilohertz or megahertz.
What is the difference between frequency and rate?
"Rate" is the general term for any quantity measured against another, such as speed or cost per unit. "Frequency" is specifically about how often something happens over a given period of time, so every frequency is a rate, but not every rate is a frequency.
What are adverbs of frequency in grammar?
Adverbs of frequency say how often something happens; common ones, from most to least often, include "always," "usually," "often," "sometimes," "rarely," and "never." They usually sit before the main verb but after forms of "be," as in "she is always late" and "she always arrives late."
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