often

adverb

of·​ten ˈȯf-tən How to pronounce often (audio) ˈȯ-fən How to pronounce often (audio)
Synonyms of oftennext
: many times : frequently
are often puzzled and sometimes annoyed by the ways of other peoples— W. A. Parker

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of often in a Sentence

They go out to dinner fairly often. How often do you call your mother? The condition often returns even after treatment with antibiotics. I often take a walk during my lunch break.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And while Millennials are often the nostalgic engine behind these promotions, Gen Z is helping drive demand. — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Myanmar’s junta government doesn’t often want others to intervene in its affairs. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025 Alcala is often seen at Verdugo's games, sporting team gear alongside their children, Efrain, A.J. and Alianna. — Nasha Smith, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025 According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes are a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads throughout the upper body, often affecting the face, chest, and neck. — EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for often

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, alteration of oft

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of often was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing often

Rhymes for often

See All Rhymes for often

Browse Nearby Words

oft
often
oftenness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Often.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/often. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on often

Nglish: Translation of often for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All