# oftentimes

/ˈɔfənˌtaɪmz/ (US) · /ˈɒfɪntˌaɪmz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oftentimes
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

many times or on many occasions. It is a slightly more formal or old-fashioned way to say 'often'.

For teachers: frequently or repeatedly. While synonymous with 'often', it is frequently perceived as more literary or emphatic in North American English.

## Examples

- Oftentimes, the simplest solution is the best one.
- Oftentimes, small businesses struggle to compete with the marketing budgets of larger corporations during the holiday season.
- Oftentimes, the historical records of a region are shaped more by the biases of the victors than by the objective reality of the events themselves.

## Usage notes

- Frequency adverb — typically placed at the beginning of a sentence or before the main verb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.