often

adverb

of·ten | \ ˈȯ-fən

, ˈȯf-tən

Definition of often

: many times : frequently are often puzzled and sometimes annoyed by the ways of other peoples— W. A. Parker

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about often

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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. He travels more often than I do. The disease is diagnosed most often in children. They seem to be getting into arguments more and more often. It's not often that I get to enjoy a day off. Water the plants often enough to keep the soil moist.

Recent Examples on the Web

In rural communities, people might physically lack access to care, or often parents may not have the resources or time to attend to their kids’ mental health problems. — Allegra Kirkland, Teen Vogue, "Pete Buttigieg Is Going All In On the Youth Mental Health Crisis," 23 Aug. 2019 States with lower Brady scores often have a higher rate of suicide deaths by gun. — Meagan Weiland, Science | AAAS, "Geography of loss—a global look at the uneven toll of suicide," 23 Aug. 2019 New Ugandan writing often has a feminist bent, exploring themes such as domestic violence or female desire. — L.t. | Kampala, The Economist, "The writers breathing fresh life into Ugandan literature," 23 Aug. 2019 The trick with finding these often has more to do with beating the birds and bears to them! — oregonlive.com, "Need to know if a fruit is safe to eat? Ask an expert," 23 Aug. 2019 Historically, a Republican challenger often has little to no chance of success against an incumbent, considering their fundraising and institutional power. — Katherine J Igoe, Marie Claire, "Who Is Joe Walsh, Potentially a Republican Challenger to President Trump?," 22 Aug. 2019 How often do people have a legitimate way of getting their hands on these signs? — Sara Cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, "Old street signs could be new avenue of funding for Community Center," 22 Aug. 2019 Babies with microcephaly often have smaller, underdeveloped brains. — Korin Miller, Health.com, "What to Know About the Zika Virus and Its Symptoms, According to Experts," 21 Aug. 2019 The owners often have no idea what their dogs are up to. — Anchorage Daily News, "The dog is one of the world’s most destructive mammals. Brazil proves it.," 21 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'often.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for often

often

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of often

: many times : on many occasions

See the full definition for often in the English Language Learners Dictionary

often

adverb

of·ten | \ ˈȯ-fən

Kids Definition of often

: many times : frequently I think of him often.

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often

Definition of often

Synonyms & Antonyms for often

Examples of often in a Sentence

First Known Use of often

History and Etymology for often

English Language Learners Definition of often

Kids Definition of often

often

Definition of often

Synonyms & Antonyms for often

Examples of often in a Sentence

First Known Use of often

History and Etymology for often

English Language Learners Definition of often

Kids Definition of often

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