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.
Addressing the issue of fast food outlets, Tice said they should be at risk of losing "their licence to operate" if they are "continually responsible for litter around their premises and beyond".
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Because the caustic structure continually shifts, the resulting flashes would occur again and again, creating a recognizable pattern that astronomers could search for.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026
With stock markets continually hitting new records, one fear is a repeat of the dot-com bust.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
Central Command, said the U.S. continually communicates and coordinates with ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
She wept continually, her face was bloated and swollen.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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.
