constantly

American  

[kon-stuhnt-lee] / ˈkɒn stənt li /

adverb

1. without pausing; unceasingly.

   Add the milk and cook until thick, stirring constantly.

2. regularly or frequently; consistently.

   The charts have to be updated every few years as the geomagnetic field is changing constantly.

   We need to be constantly vigilant if we do not want the clutter to get out of hand.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unconstantly
  adverb
• quasi-constantly
  adverb
• overconstantly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of constantly

constant + -ly

Explanation

When something happens constantly, it never stops or changes. If you sister constantly complains that she's hungry, she is always insisting that she's starving. If your dog barks constantly when he's in the car, he doesn't stop until you reach your destination, and if you're constantly thinking about your upcoming trip to France, you can't ever get it out of your head. The adverb constantly comes from constant, or "continual," which is rooted in the Latin constantem, "standing firm, stable, steadfast, or faithful."

Example Sentences

Caitlin Clark is tarnishing her legacy by constantly complaining about fouling, fighting with her coach and pushing backlash against media covering her.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

“He constantly reacts as if he’s under attack, which triggers an irritability he can’t control and doesn’t even want to control,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Unlike a single black hole, a black hole binary is constantly changing.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

"Stokesy said to me last week 'great to have you back, but just know the hard work's still to be done', and that's what's constantly in my head at the moment," Robinson said.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Karli was breathless now, stumbling ever more often, wheezing and coughing almost constantly.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• continually
• invariably
• regularly
• steadily