English Reference
adjective · verb

frequent

adj. · v.
US /ˈfɹiˌkwɛnt/ fre·quent UK spelling frequented, frequenting, frequents

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.happening many times or at short intervals.

    adj.occurring or appearing quite often or at close intervals.

    Simple

    The bus makes frequent stops along the main road.

    In context

    The region is subject to frequent power outages during the monsoon season, forcing local businesses to invest in backup generators.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    v.to go to a place very often.

    v.to visit a particular place habitually or often. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Simple

    He used to frequent that small café when he lived in Paris.

    In context

    During his university years, he would frequent the local jazz clubs, often staying until the early hours of the morning.

    Usage

    The stress shifts to the second syllable (fre-QUENT) when used as a verb.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.doing something as a habit or very often.

    adj.habitual or persistent in a particular behaviour or practice.

    Simple

    She is a frequent traveller who knows all the best airport lounges.

    In context

    As a frequent critic of the current administration, the journalist was rarely invited to official press briefings.

Usage frequent challenge

Scientists blame ever hotter and more frequent heatwaves on human-caused climate change.

The Local· 14 Aug 2026

Climate change is expected to bring more severe, frequent and longer-lasting heatwaves in UK summers in the coming years.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Old French frequent, from Latin frequens (“crowded, crammed, frequent, repeated, etc.”), possibly from a Proto-Indo-European *bʰrekʷ- (“to cram together”).

Etymology 2

From Old French frequenter, from Latin frequentare (“to fill, crowd, visit often, do or use often, etc.”), from frequens (“frequent, crowded”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *bʰrekʷ-
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated