continually
Americanadverb
-
very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually.
-
without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Brain cells continually pull material from the fluid around them, including nutrients, signaling molecules, and fragments of their own outer surfaces.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Many people ladder their CDs for monthly, quarterly or yearly disbursements so they can continually refill their coffers without having to worry about stock-market volatility.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
For Madonna, dance music isn’t nostalgia, but rather a continually renewing resource.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
He said once temperatures go beyond what the system was designed for, the compressor works continually to keep things cold – eventually leading to breakdown.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
A serpent and his brood gnawed continually at the root beside Niflheim, Hel’s home.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
