occasionally
adv.-
1 from time to time (adv.) B1 Intermediatesometimes, but not regularly or frequently.
at relatively infrequent or irregular intervals; from time to time.
ExampleWe still see our old neighbors occasionally for coffee in the park.
ExampleAlthough the software is generally reliable, it occasionally crashes when processing large video files without sufficient memory.
UsageAs a frequency adverb, it can be placed before the main verb, at the beginning of a sentence, or at the very end.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'sometimes'. Explain that 'occasionally' suggests a lower frequency than 'sometimes' and feels slightly more formal.
- sometimes
- periodically
- now and then
PitfallI occasionally go to the gym.I go to the gym occasionally.While both are correct, placing 'occasionally' at the end of the sentence is very common for emphasis. Avoid putting it between a verb and its object.
From Middle English occasionally, occasionaly, occasyoneely, occasyonly, equivalent to occasional + -ly.
- Adjectiveoccasional
- Adverboccasionally