frequent
FREE-kwuhnt
Frequent (adj) means happening often; occurring at short intervals. Example: “He is a frequent visitor to the local library.”
adj
1
Happening often; occurring at short intervals.
"He is a frequent visitor to the local library."
"Frequent breaks helped her stay focused during the long exam."
"Frequent rain made the hiking trip rather muddy this year."
verb
1
To visit a place regularly.
"The band used to frequent that small jazz club before they got famous."
"Local students frequent the cafe near the university after their classes."
"Foxes often frequent gardens in our town at night."
How to use frequent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHappening a lot, or to visit somewhere regularly.
Common mistake
As a verb, "frequent" is stressed on the second syllable and takes a direct object ("he frequents the gym"), unlike the adjective, which is stressed on the first syllable.
Common pairings
frequent flyer
frequent visitor
frequent occurrence
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like frequent.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- frequents
- Past tense
- frequented
- Comparative
- more frequent, frequenter
- Superlative
- most frequent, frequentest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He is a _____ visitor to the local library.
Etymology
From Old French frequent, from Latin frequens, meaning "crowded" or "repeated."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for frequent
See all rhymes for frequent →Frequently asked questions
What does “frequent” mean?
The word “frequent” means happening often; occurring at short intervals. In plain terms, happening a lot, or to visit somewhere regularly.
How do you pronounce “frequent”?
“Frequent” is pronounced FREE-kwuhnt (/ˈfɹiː.kwənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “frequent” in a sentence?
Here is “frequent” used in a sentence: “He is a frequent visitor to the local library.”
What part of speech is “frequent”?
Depending on how it is used, “frequent” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “frequent” come from?
The word “frequent” comes from Latin. From Old French frequent, from Latin frequens, meaning "crowded" or "repeated.".
Is “frequent” a common word?
“Frequent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “frequent” have?
“Frequent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening often; occurring at short intervals.
What is the difference between "frequent" and "regular"?
Frequent means happening often or at short intervals, while regular means happening at fixed, evenly spaced times. Something frequent occurs many times, whereas something regular occurs on a predictable schedule even if it is not especially often.
What is the difference between "frequent" and "often"?
"Frequent" is an adjective that describes a noun, as in "frequent trips," while "often" is an adverb that describes a verb, as in "travels often." They carry the same idea but fit different positions in a sentence.
How is the verb "frequent" different from the adjective "frequent"?
As an adjective, "frequent" means happening often and stresses the first syllable, while as a verb it means to visit a place regularly and stresses the second syllable. Compare "frequent complaints" (adjective) with "he frequents that café" (verb).
What are common collocations with "frequent"?
Common phrases include "frequent flyer," "frequent visitor," "less frequent," "frequent updates," and "frequent breaks." These mostly use "frequent" as an adjective meaning happening often.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include frequent:
