continually
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
happening many times or very often, usually in a way that is annoying or noticeable.
occurring in regular or frequent succession. Often carries a pragmatic nuance of persistence or irritation.
Simple“He continually asked the same question even though I had already answered it.”
In context“The software was continually updated throughout the year to address minor bugs and security vulnerabilities reported by users.”
PitfallThe machine runs continually without stopping. The machine runs continuously without stopping.Use 'continually' for things that happen again and again with breaks. Use 'continuously' for things that never stop.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
happening without any breaks or interruptions.
occurring without interruption or cessation; in a continuous manner. Note that many style guides prefer 'continuously' for this specific meaning.
Simple“It rained continually for three days, and the streets never had a chance to dry.”
In context“The waterfall flows continually from the cliffside, providing a steady source of hydroelectric power for the remote village.”
UsageIn formal writing, 'continually' is strictly for repeated events, while 'continuously' is for uninterrupted ones.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage continually change
“I continually push myself and the system to do more.”
“A Jupiter-like neighbour may be a prerequisite for advanced life, since on a planet without one, the clock of evolution would be continually reset by mass extinctions.”
From continual + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.