frequent

[adjective free-kwuh nt; verb fri-kwent, free-kwuh nt]

See more synonyms for frequent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

happening or occurring at short intervals: to make frequent trips to Tokyo.
constant, habitual, or regular: a frequent guest.
located at short distances apart: frequent towns along the shore.

verb (used with object)

to visit often; go often to; be often in: to frequent the art galleries.

Origin of frequent

1400–50; late Middle English: ample, profuse < Latin frequent- (stem of frequēns) crowded; (v.) (< Middle French fréquenter) < Latin frequentāre, derivative of frequēns

Related formsfre·quent·a·ble, adjectivefre·quent·er, nounfre·quent·ness, nounnon·fre·quent, adjectivenon·fre·quent·ly, adverbo·ver·fre·quent, adjectiveo·ver·fre·quent·ly, adverbun·fre·quent, adjectiveun·fre·quent·ly, adverbun·fre·quent·a·ble, adjectivewell-fre·quent·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for frequent

commonplace, constant, intermittent, recurrent, persistent, incessant, periodic, continual, numerous, usual, haunt, affect, overrun, attend, patronize, manifold, expected, general, reiterated

Examples from the Web for frequent

Contemporary Examples of frequent

Think of it as a frequent buyer program for personal karma, or a spiritual band-aid.
The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma
Brendon Hong
December 28, 2014
As a major source for steel during World War II, Sheffield was a frequent target of bombing raids.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker
Ted Gioia
December 23, 2014
I inherited the Arnold Family Thunder ThighsTM, which was a source of frequent teasing and distress for me as a child.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014
It shows what the experience of any frequent flyer already demonstrates.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries
Clive Irving
December 7, 2014
She married an architect and their children, Dialta as well as another daughter and two sons, were frequent guests at La Pietra.
In Tussle Over Will, Mistress’s Family Takes a Bite Out of NYU
Anthony Haden-Guest
November 10, 2014

Historical Examples of frequent

Some books were in frequent use, but others were not forgotten.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
Such a course is frequent and would not give the right of complaint to anybody.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
The soliloquy and aside are evidently not so frequent in New Comedy.
The Dramatic Values in Plautus
Wilton Wallace Blancke
Circumstances brought him into frequent contact with the natives there.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
His visits there, as already remarked, had not been frequent of late.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for frequent

frequent

adjective (ˈfriːkwənt)

recurring at short intervals
constant or habitual

verb (frɪˈkwɛnt)

(tr) to visit repeatedly or habitually

Derived Formsfrequentable, adjectivefrequenter, nounfrequently, adverbfrequentness, noun

Word Origin for frequent

C16: from Latin frequēns numerous; perhaps related to Latin farcīre to stuff

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for frequent

adj.

mid-15c., "ample, profuse," from Middle French frequent, or directly from Latin frequentem (nominative frequens) "crowded, repeated," of uncertain origin. Meaning "common, usual" is from 1530s; that of "happening at short intervals, often recurring" is from c.1600.

late 15c., from Middle French frequenter, from Latin frequentare "visit regularly," from frequentem (see frequent (adj.)). Related: Frequented; frequenting.