sometimes
SUHM-tymz
Sometimes (adverb) means On certain occasions but not always. Example: “Sometimes I walk to work instead of driving.”
adverb
1
On certain occasions but not always.
"Sometimes I walk to work instead of driving."
"The bus is sometimes late during rush hour."
"In 16th and 17th century Britain, for example, women’s alopecia was sometimes interpreted as retribution for sins, including adultery."
— Glen Jankowski, Alopecia in art history: The many ways women’s hair loss has been interpreted (2024)
"My sister sometimes calls me late at night when she cannot sleep."
"Sometimes I sit and think, but mostly I just sit."
How to use sometimes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNow and then, but not every time.
Easily confused with
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_____ I walk to work instead of driving.
Etymology
From sometime + the adverbial suffix -s.
Synonyms
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occasionally
now and then
at times
from time to time
once in a while
on occasion
periodically
every so often
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sometimes
See all rhymes for sometimes →Frequently asked questions
What does “sometimes” mean?
The word “sometimes” means on certain occasions but not always. In plain terms, now and then, but not every time.
How do you pronounce “sometimes”?
“Sometimes” is pronounced SUHM-tymz (/ˈsʌm.taɪmz/ in IPA).
How do you use “sometimes” in a sentence?
Here is “sometimes” used in a sentence: “Sometimes I walk to work instead of driving.”
What part of speech is “sometimes”?
“Sometimes” is an adverb.
Is “sometimes” a common word?
“Sometimes” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between sometimes and sometime?
Sometimes means occasionally or now and then — 'I sometimes walk to work.' Sometime (one word) means at an unspecified point in time — 'Let's meet sometime next week.' 'Some time' (two words) means a period of time — 'It took some time.' The confusion comes from the shared spelling but the meanings are quite distinct.
Is sometimes formal or informal?
Sometimes is neutral and works in both formal and informal writing. It fits reports, essays, and everyday conversation equally well. In very formal or academic prose, writers may prefer 'occasionally' or 'on occasion,' but sometimes is never wrong and remains one of the most natural ways to express irregular frequency.
What is the opposite of sometimes?
The clearest opposites are 'always' and 'never,' which sit at the two extremes of frequency. Sometimes falls in the middle, meaning neither constantly nor not at all. Words like 'rarely' and 'often' are near-opposites in a looser sense, shifting the balance toward less or more frequent occurrence.
What is an example of sometimes in a sentence?
You might say, 'Sometimes I read before bed, but other nights I fall asleep straight away.' The word signals that something happens on certain occasions without being a fixed rule. It often pairs naturally with a contrast, showing what happens the rest of the time.
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