continually
Americanadverb
-
very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually.
-
without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.
Commonly Confused
See continual.
Etymology
Origin of continually
First recorded in 1175–1225, continually is from the Middle English word continuelli, continueliche; see continual, -ly
Explanation
When you do something continually, you do it over and over again. If you keep checking your email to see if you've gotten an important message, you can say you check it continually. The adverb continually is good for describing something you do repeatedly, or on a regular basis. Your little brother, for example, might complain continually that he's hungry for ice cream. The word continuously is easy to confuse with continually — when you do something continually, you take breaks in between, but when you do it continuously, you don't stop at all. Both come from a Latin root, continuare, or "join together."
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.
Common letters can certainly be useful, but the mathematical approach continually adjusts its choices based on what has already been learned.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
Yet the investor who was an early partner at Citadel continually draws on lessons from his second undergraduate major: anthropology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mariner, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for public order, said forces were "continually assessing and preparing for protests and any potential impact on public safety".
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
"By continually investing in our stores, our global online channel and our centralised logistics platforms, with an accompanying focus on sustainability, we will continue to generate long-term growth," the group said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
She had been with him so continually on the journey, he had begun to think of them as inseparable.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
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.
