often
O-fuhn
Often (adv) means Frequently; many times. Example: “We often go for a walk after dinner.”
adv
1
Frequently; many times.
"I often walk to work when the weather is nice."
"I’ve been going to the movies more often since a new theatre opened near me."
"We often go for a walk after dinner."
"She is often the first one to arrive at the office."
"How often do you check your email during a normal working day?"
"It can't be said too often / often enough."
How to use often
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word for how frequently something happens.
Common mistake
The "t" is traditionally silent in most English accents ("OFF-en"), though pronouncing it ("OFF-ten") has become common and is now widely accepted.
Common pairings
how often
more often than not
as often as possible
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more often, oftener
- Superlative
- most often, oftenest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ go for a walk after dinner.
Etymology
From Middle English ofte, with an added "n" by analogy with "seldom" — both ultimately from an old Germanic root meaning "often".
Synonyms
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frequently
regularly
repeatedly
commonly
usually
time and again
much
oft
oftentimes
ofttimes
a great deal
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for often
See all rhymes for often →Frequently asked questions
What does “often” mean?
The word “often” means frequently; many times. In plain terms, a word for how frequently something happens.
How do you pronounce “often”?
“Often” is pronounced O-fuhn (/ˈɔfən/ in IPA).
How do you use “often” in a sentence?
Here is “often” used in a sentence: “We often go for a walk after dinner.”
What is the opposite of “often”?
The opposite of “often” — its antonyms — are rarely, forever, occasionally, never and once.
What part of speech is “often”?
“Often” is an adverb.
Where does the word “often” come from?
The word “often” comes from Middle English. From Middle English ofte, with an added "n" by analogy with "seldom" — both ultimately from an old Germanic root meaning "often".
Is “often” a common word?
“Often” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between often and sometimes?
Both describe how frequently something happens, but often means many times or regularly, while sometimes means only now and then, on certain occasions. If you often walk to work, it is your usual habit; if you sometimes walk, you do it occasionally. Often sits higher on the scale of frequency than sometimes.
What is the opposite of often?
The most common opposites are rarely and seldom, which mean not many times or hardly ever. Never is the absolute opposite, meaning at no time at all. So while often describes something happening frequently, rarely and seldom describe it happening very little, and never describes it not happening.
Is the 't' in often silent?
Traditionally the t in often is silent, so it sounds like 'off-en,' and this is still a widely accepted pronunciation. However, many speakers now sound the t, saying 'off-ten,' partly influenced by the spelling. Both are widely understood and considered correct, so either pronunciation is acceptable in everyday speech.
What is an example of often?
You might say 'I often visit my grandparents' to show you do it regularly, or 'it often rains here' to describe a frequent event. Often usually sits before the main verb or after the verb 'to be,' as in 'she is often late,' making it easy to place in a sentence.
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