Often

/ˈɔːfən/

Meaning & Definition

adverb
Frequently; many times.
I often go for a walk in the evening.
On many occasions; repeatedly.
She often finds herself daydreaming in class.
Commonly; as a general rule.
He often advises people to save for retirement.
At regular intervals.
They often meet for coffee on weekends.
More than once; not infrequently.
The train often arrives late during rush hour.

Etymology

Middle English, from the Old English 'oft', meaning frequently.

Common Phrases and Expressions

often overlooked
something commonly ignored or not noticed.
often seen
something that is frequently observed.
more often than not
usually; most of the time.

Related Words

seldom
not often; rarely.
occasionally
sometimes, but not regularly.
frequent
occurring or done many times at short intervals.

Slang Meanings

a lot
I eat pizza often, like, a lot!
all the time
I’m on my phone often—like, all the time.