Word
quarterly
Phoneticsquar·ter·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkwɔɹtɝɫi/
UK/kwˈɔːtəli/
Adverb of frequency
Definitions
01happening every three months
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening or done once every three months.
adj. occurring or appearing once every quarter of a year.
“The company holds a quarterly meeting to discuss their sales results.”
“The board of directors reviews the quarterly financial statements to ensure the company remains on track for its annual targets.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
02four times a year
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. once every three months.
adv. at three-month intervals; four times a year.
Español:trimestralmente
“We pay our water bill quarterly rather than every month.”
“The interest on the savings account is calculated daily but credited quarterly to the depositor's balance.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb or appears at the end of the clause.
Synonyms
03a magazine
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a magazine or journal that is published four times a year.
n. a periodical publication issued four times per year.
“He writes a column for a famous literary quarterly.”
“The academic quarterly published a special issue focusing on the long-term effects of urban migration in Southeast Asia.”
Teaching tip
In modern usage, this often refers to academic, literary, or professional journals rather than general-interest magazines.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Separately, US cosmetics giant Estee Lauder said on Wednesday it had recorded a "$38m benefit in the cost of sales" from tariff refunds in its latest quarterly results.” “The rate, which came in under the government’s target of 4.5% to 5%, was one of the weakest since Beijing began reporting official quarterly GDP data in the early 1990s.” Etymology
From quarter + -ly (adjectival).
From quarter + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/quarterly
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0