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
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.
Mulligan has been consistently great, but I don’t remember her being this ferocious — or funny.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
“We have consistently aligned our business towards reliable earnings and have a strong balance sheet.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
He consistently points to an extradition law approved by his administration – in fact, the very law under which he was sent to the US for trial – as evidence.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
These states might look at the agreement as a chance to bolster a somewhat shaky utility in Dominion with the help of a healthier one in NextEra, which has consistently delivered below-average costs, West added.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
In fact, surveys consistently show that African Americans are generally less supportive of harsh criminal justice policies than whites, even though blacks are far more likely to be victims of crime.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
