constantly
Americanadverb
-
without pausing; unceasingly.
Add the milk and cook until thick, stirring constantly.
-
regularly or frequently; consistently.
The charts have to be updated every few years as the geomagnetic field is changing constantly.
We need to be constantly vigilant if we do not want the clutter to get out of hand.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of constantly
Explanation
When something happens constantly, it never stops or changes. If you sister constantly complains that she's hungry, she is always insisting that she's starving. If your dog barks constantly when he's in the car, he doesn't stop until you reach your destination, and if you're constantly thinking about your upcoming trip to France, you can't ever get it out of your head. The adverb constantly comes from constant, or "continual," which is rooted in the Latin constantem, "standing firm, stable, steadfast, or faithful."
Vocabulary lists containing constantly
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.
"People are constantly focused on meeting basic needs," she explains.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
“Whatever people’s idea of what Latino music is ... is not limited. We’re constantly crossing genres and cultures. We’re on the rise.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
“If the CEO isn’t constantly pushing to stay ahead of markets, what’s the point of the job?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Artisanal mining and cross-border trade also means Ebola has more chances to spread as people are constantly on the move.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
He saw eggs in some of the moorhens’ nests, but the mother birds were constantly coming and going.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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.
