often
- 01 A1 Beginner
adv.many times or on many occasions.
adv.occurring many times or at frequent intervals.
Simple“I often go for a walk in the park after I finish my dinner.”
In context“The researchers noted that participants who exercised often reported significantly higher levels of daily energy than those with sedentary lifestyles.”
UsageUsually placed before the main verb, but after the verb 'to be' or auxiliary verbs.
PitfallI often am late for work. I am often late for work.Adverbs of frequency like 'often' usually go after the verb 'to be' but before other main verbs.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.happening many times.
adj.occurring at short intervals or many times. This adjectival use is archaic and largely replaced by 'frequent' in modern English.
Simple“In old stories, you might read about a person's often visits to a friend.”
In context“The poet wrote of his often sighs, a phrasing that sounds quite unnatural to the modern ear.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; learners should use the adjective 'frequent' instead in modern contexts.
Usage often used · often called · often associated
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”). Cognates Cognate with Scots affen, aften, af'en, oaffen, oaften, oftin (“often”), North Frisian aaft, oftem, oofting (“often”), Saterland Frisian oafte (“often”), German, Luxembourgish and Pennsylvania German oft (“often”), Yiddish אָפֿט (oft, “often”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk ofte (“often”), Faroese, Swedish ofta (“often”), Icelandic oft (“often”), Gothic 𐌿𐍆𐍄𐌰 (ufta, “often”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.