of course

Idioms  

1. In the customary or expected order, naturally, as in The new minister did not, of course, fire the church secretary . This usage, first recorded in 1548, employs course in the sense of “ordinary procedure.”

2. Certainly, as in Of course I'll answer the phone , or Are you going to the meeting?—Of course . [Early 1800s] Also see matter of course .

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Example Sentences

Bond markets aren’t children, of course, but their challenge to the new Federal Reserve Chairman, Kevin Warsh, who was sworn in last week, is causing something of a fuss.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Slimp: I love steak fajita with flour tortilla, of course, cheese, and guac.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

There is of course one massive query—whether this could have succeeded at trial.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

What Lily couldn’t have foreseen, of course, was that her amateur detective skills would become necessary when, one day, George is found dead, and the investigation by a bumbling local policeman isn’t up to snuff.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Terrified, I set the snowhook and run up to put the fire out, lean down to pat the flames out and of course they disappear, are not there.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen