frequent
Americanadjective
-
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)
-
frequents,
present (3rd person singular)
-
frequented,
past participle, past
-
frequenting
present participle
adjective
-
recurring at short intervals
-
constant or habitual
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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frequenternoun
-
frequentnessnoun
-
frequentableadjective
-
nonfrequentadjective
-
overfrequentadjective
-
unfrequentadjective
-
unfrequentableadjective
-
well-frequentedadjective
-
frequentlyadverb
-
nonfrequentlyadverb
-
overfrequentlyadverb
-
unfrequentlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
frequentsimple
-
frequentssimple
-
have frequentedperfect
-
has frequentedperfect
-
am frequentingprogressive
-
are frequentingprogressive
-
is frequentingprogressive
-
have been frequentingperfect progressive
-
has been frequentingperfect progressive
Past
-
frequentedsimple
-
had frequentedperfect
-
was frequentingprogressive
-
were frequentingprogressive
-
had been frequentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of frequent
First recorded in 1400–50; (for the adjective) late Middle English: “ample, profuse,” from Latin frequent-, stem of frequēns “crowded, full, repeated”; verb derivative of the adjective
Explanation
Use the adjective frequent to describe something done often and at regular intervals. If your family likes to read, you may be a frequent visitor to the library. You may also have frequent arguments with your family about who gets to read a book first. The adjective form of frequent also means regularly and often encountered. If you live on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii, you may experience frequent rain showers. As a verb, frequent means to be a regular visitor or to patronize. You can frequent the trails of the National Parks. You may prefer to frequent locally-owned businesses.
Vocabulary lists containing frequent
List 3
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 2
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Rosetta Stone's Essential Academic Vocabulary: Lesson 3
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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.
See Examples For:
This is especially valuable in tropical regions, where frequent cloud cover can make conventional satellite imagery less reliable.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Prosecutors cited Alfozan's frequent contact with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family in arguing against his release.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
These links, used by Kiran and his friends, have practical downsides – such as frequent buffering or poor quality, or platforms that disappear without warning.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
Incredibly frequent fire, triggered by near-constant human ignitions, slowly chokes out native species.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
In medical school, the first two years consisted mainly of lecture courses, but Farmer managed, with the blessing of the faculty, to make frequent visits to Haiti, taking his notes and textbooks with him.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Tresvant previously worked for Nike as chief marketing officer of the Jordan brand, which is wildly popular among younger consumers — the same group that often frequents Taco Bell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
The Ocean's Twelve star said she also frequents flea markets and buys artwork while travelling.
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026
Hotel rooms in an area of Utah he frequents should be no more than $110.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
Derby Line resident Jonas Horsky, a Franco-American who frequents the library for its bilingual catalogue, told AFP he felt "nostalgic" for the days of unencumbered cross-border travel.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2025
He frequents a discotheque with a $7 entry fee.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
L.A. will miss Cole’s French Dip, frequented by decades of artists, musicians and writers, including Charles Bukowski; plus, “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” at the Vista, and George Strait at Sofi Stadium.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
Then, for a miserable stretch, several Red Line stations I frequented seemed to stop recognizing it.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Only about 12 customers a day frequented the Manchester, Tenn., store’s final 72 hours, the employee said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Hussle even selected the cover art: a gradient blue photo of the two rappers chilling with friends at the Hollywood Roosevelt, the hotel they frequented during the recording of the album.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Henry Waters Taft, a well- known antitrust lawyer and brother to President William Howard Taft, frequented the Greenbrier, and one day in the store, Katherine taught him Roman numerals.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
I got my driver’s license and started frequenting independent coffee shops with exposed brick and pour-overs.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026
“To the extent that people are frequenting those types of places less, you’re having a reduction in opportunities for offending.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
As Wong and her team fought back, residents continued frequenting the space, donating their own books, tables and benches.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
According to Woodward, the otter now frequenting Steamer Lane has been actively pursuing surfers nearly every day since Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025
John found great comfort in reading Spiritualist publications and started frequenting mediums.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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