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Synonyms

occasionally

American  
[uh-key-zhuh-nl-ee] / əˈkeɪ ʒə nl i /

adverb

  1. at times; from time to time; now and then.

occasionally British  
/ əˈkeɪʒənəlɪ /

adverb

  1. from time to time

"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

Etymology

Origin of occasionally

First recorded in 1615–25; occasional + -ly

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.

These fresh craters are a reminder that the Moon is still being shaped by ongoing impacts, and that the Solar System remains active and occasionally violent.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Ortiz is a trained actor and has occasionally appeared on camera as himself, sans puppets.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

It’s part of my job to check my biases at the door before watching any film, but occasionally, one or two sneak through.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

You might occasionally forget while watching “Sonic the Hedgehog” or “A Minecraft Movie” that these big-screen comedy successes were originally videogames.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Marlie came next, smiling occasionally at Allun, who was swinging along beside her, whistling and singing as if he was on a country jaunt.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

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.