often
Adverb
- Frequently, on many occasions.
- many times at short intervals
- "we often met over a cup of coffee"
- frequently or in great quantities
- in many cases or instances
Adv
- Frequently; many times on different occasions.
Adj
- Frequent.
Examples
- He would OFTEN rearrange his tiles, even when he knew his play.
- I often walk to work when the weather is nice.
- It can't be said too often / often enough.
- I’ve been going to the movies more often since a new theatre opened near me.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English often, alteration (with final -n added due to analogy with Middle English selden (“seldom”)) of Middle English ofte, oft, from Old English oft (“often”), from Proto-Germanic *ufta, *uftō (“often”). Cognate with Scots oftin (“often”), North Frisian oftem (“often”), Saterland Frisian oafte (“often”), German oft (“often”), Pennsylvania German oft (“often”), Danish ofte (“often”), Norwegian Bokmål ofte (“often”), Norwegian Nynorsk ofte (“often”), Swedish ofta (“often”), and Icelandic oft (“often”).
Synonyms
a great deal, frequently, much, oft, oftentimes, ofttimes, a lot, feelefold, manifold, manyfold, often, oftenly, repeatedly, typically, unseldom
Antonyms
infrequently, rarely, forever, never, occasionally, often, once, seldom, unoften
Scrabble Score: 8
often: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordoften: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
often: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary