continually
Americanadverb
-
very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually.
-
without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.
Commonly Confused
See continual.
Etymology
Origin of continually
First recorded in 1175–1225, continually is from the Middle English word continuelli, continueliche; see continual, -ly
Explanation
When you do something continually, you do it over and over again. If you keep checking your email to see if you've gotten an important message, you can say you check it continually. The adverb continually is good for describing something you do repeatedly, or on a regular basis. Your little brother, for example, might complain continually that he's hungry for ice cream. The word continuously is easy to confuse with continually — when you do something continually, you take breaks in between, but when you do it continuously, you don't stop at all. Both come from a Latin root, continuare, or "join together."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Addressing the issue of fast food outlets, Tice said they should be at risk of losing "their licence to operate" if they are "continually responsible for litter around their premises and beyond".
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Vail Resorts MTN 1.36%increase; green up pointing triangle once again cut its outlook for the year, citing historically challenging weather conditions across the western U.S. that have continually damped demand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
With stock markets continually hitting new records, one fear is a repeat of the dot-com bust.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
His long, productive career encompassed more than six decades, in each of which his live performances and recordings continually attested to his preeminence as one of jazz history’s most vital, innovative and influential artists.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
The flat trolleys with the rubber wheels pass continually along the corridor, and always with someone stretched at full length upon them.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
