occasionally

adverb

oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nə-lē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: on occasion : now and then
dines out occasionally
We occasionally see deer in the field.

Examples of occasionally in a Sentence

Occasionally, things don't go as planned. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web Max’s teenage Russian did occasionally lead us into difficulty. Paul Tough, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 These legends allude to the existence of hidden worlds above and below the visible one, with cracks occasionally forming between them. Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 The rounded shapes in the compositions usually stand alone but occasionally appear in threes. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Add kale, and return to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally until kale is bright green and softened, about 5 minutes. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the hard crack stage (300°–310°). Steffi Cao, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024 On this barren landscape roughly the size of Switzerland, there are no roads or human settlements—just an endless expanse of shimmering white, occasionally punctuated by an ancient baobab tree. Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 TikTok is memes, and occasionally cultural appropriation, but its algorithm is also incredibly good at helping people find their corner of the online universe. Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2024 During that time, large trucks would occasionally park on her narrow street in Highland Park. Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occasionally.' 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

Middle English occasionaly "on a particular occasion, sometimes," from occasyonal occasional + -ly -ly entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near occasionally

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

occasionally

adverb
oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly -ē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: from time to time
occasionally goes to the movies

More from Merriam-Webster on occasionally

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