frequent

American  

[free-kwuhnt, fri-kwent, free-kwuhnt] / ˈfri kwənt, frɪˈkwɛnt, ˈfri kwənt /

adjective

1. happening or occurring at short intervals.

   to make frequent trips to Tokyo.

2. constant, habitual, or regular.

   a frequent guest.

3. located at short distances apart.

   frequent towns along the shore.

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verb (used with object)

1. to visit often; go often to; be often in.

   to frequent the art galleries.

frequent British  

adjective

1. recurring at short intervals

2. constant or habitual

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verb

1. (tr) to visit repeatedly or habitually

Other Word Forms

• frequentable adjective
• frequenter noun
• frequently adverb
• frequentness noun
• nonfrequent adjective
• nonfrequently adverb
• overfrequent adjective
• overfrequently adverb
• unfrequent adjective
• unfrequentable adjective
• unfrequently adverb
• well-frequented adjective

Etymology

Origin of frequent

First recorded in 1400–50; (for the adjective) late Middle English: “ample, profuse,” from Latin frequent-, stem of frequēns “crowded, full, repeated”; verb derivative of the adjective

Explanation

Use the adjective frequent to describe something done often and at regular intervals. If your family likes to read, you may be a frequent visitor to the library. You may also have frequent arguments with your family about who gets to read a book first. The adjective form of frequent also means regularly and often encountered. If you live on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii, you may experience frequent rain showers. As a verb, frequent means to be a regular visitor or to patronize. You can frequent the trails of the National Parks. You may prefer to frequent locally-owned businesses.

Example Sentences

It means you see book-buying as a hobby, frequent book events and share a social circle with other readers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

The Securities and Exchange Commission just moved to drop the “pattern day trader” rule that required frequent traders to keep at least $25,000 equity in their margin account.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

If you're a parent or live with a condition that makes frequent bathroom trips unavoidable, you've likely figured out which public restrooms are usable and which ones to avoid.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

“While there were crises before that — the tech wreck, the Asian crisis, the early 1990s recession — they now seem more frequent and less related to traditional economic cycles,” says Oliver.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

But besides his frequent absences, there was another barrier to friendship with him: he seemed of a reserved, an abstracted, and even of a brooding nature.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• commonplace
• constant
• continual
• incessant
• intermittent
• numerous
• periodic
• persistent
• recurrent
• usual