frequent

1 of 2

verb

frequented; frequenting; frequents

transitive verb

1
: to associate with, be in, or resort to often or habitually
a bar frequented by sports fans
a restaurant frequented by local politicians
2
archaic : to read systematically or habitually
frequentation noun
frequenter noun

frequent

2 of 2

adjective

fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
a
: common, usual
a frequent practice among these people
b
: happening at short intervals : often repeated or occurring
a bus making frequent stops
2
obsolete : full, thronged
3
: acting or returning regularly or often
a frequent visitor
a frequent customer
4
archaic : intimate, familiar
frequentness noun

Examples of frequent in a Sentence

Verb He began frequenting cheap bars. a neighborhood frequented by tourists a restaurant frequented by local politicians Adjective We made frequent trips to town. This bus makes frequent stops. She was a frequent visitor to the museum. He is one of our most frequent customers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Barton Creek Greenbelt in South Austin, lies along Barton Creek and connects to Barton Springs Pool – a popular area frequented by city residents. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Miller said park staff believe two Florida panthers have been frequenting the area — a larger male cat and a smaller one of undetermined gender. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 There are other popular otter hangouts nearby, including South T Pier, along the Harbor Walk, and next to Target Rock, a place frequented by divers. Jerry Rice, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Many East Bay and South Bay customers may frequent this Gateway Plaza location to take advantage of the ambitious new menu: This is the first Ike’s to offer all halal options. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 The main trails leading to Burney Falls, the picturesque waterfall in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park often frequented by hikers, will be closed as part of an $835,000 project throughout the summer and into the fall, California State Parks announced Friday. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 16 Feb. 2024 One of the store managers at a location that Johnson frequented recognized him and informed the police. USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2024 Despite his relative wealth, the elder James Mohammad enjoyed holding court in these types of restaurants, which served the starchy Yoruba dishes of his youth, as opposed to the Euro-chic restaurants in Lagos that his nephew frequented. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024 In 1980, Princess Grace was reported to have frequented the property with her daughter, Princess Caroline. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2024
Adjective
One of Coogler’s frequent collaborators, composer Ludwig Göransson, will executive produce with Rebecca Cho and Will Greenfield. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Super Micro Computer — once a relative unknown — has become a frequent supplier for companies and governments interested in cashing in on the AI boom. William Gavin, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Moran and Grenadier have been his frequent collaborators over the last couple of decades. Steve Hochman, SPIN, 19 Mar. 2024 Orange and San Diego counties’ coasts and valleys in particular experienced frequent bursts of lightning Monday afternoon, along with hail and loud thunder, as a low pressure system moved in from the east, creating instability in the atmosphere that fueled the unusually strong thunderstorms. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 But what was already common has become more frequent and more invasive since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 SpaceX will review the data from the flight before preparing for future, more frequent launches. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 This might look like a flexible schedule that allows for more frequent breaks or a workspace with softer lighting. Julia Sullivan, SELF, 14 Mar. 2024 Furthermore, frequent energy drink consumers reported more sleep disturbances, such as waking up throughout the night, than those who didn’t drink as much. Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frequent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, ample, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frequent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frequent

Cite this Entry

“Frequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frequent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frequent

1 of 2 adjective
fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
: happening often
made frequent trips to town
2
: regular entry 1 sense 3b, habitual
a frequent visitor to the museum
frequently adverb
frequentness noun

frequent

2 of 2 verb
fre·​quent frē-ˈkwent How to pronounce frequent (audio)
ˈfrē-kwənt
: to visit, associate with, or go to often
frequents the library
frequenter noun

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