every now and then

Idioms  

1. Also, every now and again; every once in a while; every so often. Occasionally, from time to time; also, periodically. For example, Every now and then I long for a piece of chocolate, or We take long walks every now and again, or Every once in a while he'll call, or Every so often she washes the car. The first term dates from the first half of the 1700s, the last from the mid-1900s. Also see from time to time; once in a while.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

every now and then

Yet every now and then the Strokes, who absolutely ripped at Coachella in April, lock into a groove with the springy precision that’s been the band’s signature since the beginning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

"We keep in touch every now and then," the WHO chief told reporters.

From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026

He says he went from being a teenager who used steroid creams to manage his eczema "every now and then", to experiencing such horrific symptoms he had to drop out of university.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

It needs only to “get lucky” every now and then to undermine the resolve and weaken the defense of the stronger party.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

I see her reading her Bible every now and then.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• every so often
• now and again
• now and then