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

All we did was rehearse every now and then.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The profusion of killing leads Mr. Winder to describe the contested Rhineland, across which so many rival armies have fought, as “a battlefield interrupted, every now and then, by a truce.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

"I peaked a couple of times in this tournament, but every now and then I get a new peak," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

I really mostly went to the director and every now and then I might throw a little something his way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

Lewandowski is very fidgety, every now and then he squints across at us most unhappily with his round goggle eyes.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

Related Words

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