OFTEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does often mean? 

• OFTEN (adverb)
  The adverb OFTEN has 3 senses:

1. many times at short intervals

2. frequently or in great quantities

3. in many cases or instances

  Familiarity information: OFTEN used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OFTEN (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Many times at short intervals

Synonyms:

frequently; oft; often; oftentimes; ofttimes

Context example:

we often met over a cup of coffee

Antonym:

rarely (not often)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Frequently or in great quantities

Synonyms:

a great deal; much; often

Context example:

I don't travel much

Sense 3

Meaning:

In many cases or instances

 Context examples 

The wretch often disguises himself, but you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

My dearest Anne, it would give me more delight than is often felt at my time of life!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Soil's role is often overlooked in this type of assessment.

(Corn better used as food than biofuel, National Science Foundation)

With that in mind, Dr. Freedman performed several different tests to assess how often apologies were included in a social rejection and how the recipients felt and responded to them.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

They formed scaffold structures composed of the nanoparticles embedded in a non-toxic gel often used in biomedical applications.

(3-D gel-nanoparticle device detoxifies blood, NIH)

Sea monsters have often captured people’s imaginations.

(Sea Monster Swam Oceans 170 Million Years Ago, Voanews)

The girl had to work hard during the day, and often the Witch threatened to beat her with the same old umbrella she always carried in her hand.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

"I've told Missis often my opinion about the child, and Missis agreed with me. She's an underhand little thing: I never saw a girl of her age with so much cover."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

In figure he was spare, but very strongly built—indeed, he had often proved that there were few men in England capable of such sustained exertions.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"We often wondered why you didn't call," Mr. White was saying.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)