chronically

American  

[kron-ik-lee] / ˈkrɒn ɪk li /

adverb

1. happening constantly or habitually.

   Nationally, millions of students are chronically absent every year.

2. happening or recurring over an extended period of time (opposed toacutely ).

   Monitoring is especially helpful for chronically ill patients wishing to avoid costly hospital stays.

   Close to 900 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished.

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Other Word Forms

• nonchronically
  adverb
• subchronically
  adverb
• unchronically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of chronically

chronic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

Example Sentences

If you’re chronically online like me, you’ve probably come across a slang-suffix that’s become part of the lexicon despite not being formally added to a dictionary — yet.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

Scientists have long suspected that this change helps these animals maintain healthy brain function despite living in chronically low-oxygen environments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Even with his career at its pinnacle and before his back became chronically balky, Woods found his way onto tabloid headlines.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

When the tech industry executive met with his son’s guidance counselor, the school confirmed that it rarely withheld diplomas from chronically absent pupils, lest these students suffer later in life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Only weeks after a previous entry declared her healthy, one of the doctors wrote, “The patient looks chronically ill. She is obviously in pain.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot