continually

American  

[kuhn-tin-yoo-uh-lee] / kənˈtɪn yu ə li /

adverb

1. very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually.

2. without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.

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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

“Families continually misjudge how fast the need for care can expand,” says Farr.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

"He had been given many opportunities to say something supportive of the survivors in terms of getting accountability for them and he has continually said the files are nothing but a hoax."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

But for everything Gates said that might appeal to a frustrated Democrat like me, his Huntington Beach braggadocio continually won out.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"We've got extremely high fish prices, we've got energy prices; wages go up continually," he lamented.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

We were not in this central zone, however, but at best on the edge of it, between it and the zone of turbulent, deflected, precipitation-laden storms that it sends continually to torment the subglacial lands.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• constantly
• continuously
• frequently
• regularly