sporadically
adverb
spo·rad·i·cal·ly
spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 
: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly
gunfire being heard sporadically
software updates that appear sporadically
Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.—
Rick Jervis
Rick JervisEven when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.—Tim Beardsley
Tim BeardsleyExamples of sporadically in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These magnolias can sporadically rebloom in the summer, when their thick foliage gives them an especially shrubby appearance.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 May 2024
Milwaukee arenas and amphitheaters tend to host Spanish-language concerts pretty sporadically, but thanks to the rise of Latin music streaming, Milwaukee will see four exclusively Spanish-language concerts this May through August at Fiserv Forum.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
The businesses are banking on customers like Mr. Chu, the retired lawyer who is staying put despite having his rate increase so quickly and so sporadically.
—Martha C. White, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
The footage shows the coyote wandering around the park, pausing sporadically to look around.
Brett Cohn was jogging across the park’s 72nd Street Traverse on the morning of Saturday, April 20, when the unexpected encounter occurred.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 25 Apr. 2024
How is the band — which has been active only sporadically in recent years — reacting to getting an unexpected endorsement from the biggest pop star in the universe?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Both the 787 and the 737 Max have been plagued by production defects that have sporadically held up deliveries and left airlines short of planes during busy travel seasons.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Scattered rain will sporadically fall across the entire county, and isolated lightning is possible.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Eventually all three left the garden but kept playing together sporadically.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 May 2024
Milwaukee arenas and amphitheaters tend to host Spanish-language concerts pretty sporadically, but thanks to the rise of Latin music streaming, Milwaukee will see four exclusively Spanish-language concerts this May through August at Fiserv Forum.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
The businesses are banking on customers like Mr. Chu, the retired lawyer who is staying put despite having his rate increase so quickly and so sporadically.
—Martha C. White, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
The footage shows the coyote wandering around the park, pausing sporadically to look around.
Brett Cohn was jogging across the park’s 72nd Street Traverse on the morning of Saturday, April 20, when the unexpected encounter occurred.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 25 Apr. 2024
How is the band — which has been active only sporadically in recent years — reacting to getting an unexpected endorsement from the biggest pop star in the universe?
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Both the 787 and the 737 Max have been plagued by production defects that have sporadically held up deliveries and left airlines short of planes during busy travel seasons.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Scattered rain will sporadically fall across the entire county, and isolated lightning is possible.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Eventually all three left the garden but kept playing together sporadically.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sporadically.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sporadically
Cite this Entry
“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 11 May. 2024.
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