consistently
Americanadverb
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with no or very few exceptions; typically; usually.
We hope the new system will lead to teachers and administrators who are consistently well-prepared and well-supported, and who will continue to grow throughout their careers.
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regularly or frequently.
The museum consistently ranks as one of the top 10 children's museums in the country.
As a premier chamber music ensemble, they consistently perform to sold-out houses around the world.
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in a way that adheres to the same principles, course, form, etc..
Similarly situated employees must be treated consistently under all company policies.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of consistently
Explanation
The adverb consistently describes something that's done the same way for a long time. If your mom consistently forgets to add sugar when she's baking cookies, it means you can count on inedible cookies. When something happens again and again, it happens consistently. In fact, the Latin root is consistentem, meaning "standing still." Consistently is most often used to describe something you can depend on, like consistently getting hungry right before lunch, or your dog consistently appearing by your side to cheer you up whenever you're feeling sad.
Vocabulary lists containing consistently
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Too Young to Drive?" and "Rules of the Road"
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
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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.
“Prediction markets reflect complex, fast-moving real-world events, and clarifications provide guidance to ensure contracts are resolved consistently with their stated terms and intended meaning,” a Polymarket spokeswoman said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Canada's immigration service said its officials apply rules "consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament".
From Barron's • Jun. 13, 2026
Recent government moves “are consistently doing the opposite” in his view, he added.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 13, 2026
L.A. has consistently struggled to get locals back into downtown in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026
I have known my share of peculiar, difficult, nervous, grabby people, but I’ve never encountered any genuinely, consistently detestable human beings in all my life.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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.
