Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump to:
Synonyms

oft

American  
[awft, oft] / ɔft, ɒft /

adverb

Literary.
  1. often.


OFT 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. Office of Fair Trading

"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

oft 2 British  
/ ɒft /

adverb

  1. short for often (archaic or poetic except in combinations such as oft-repeated and oft-recurring )

"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 oft

before 900; Middle English oft ( e ), Old English oft; cognate with Old Frisian ofta, Old Saxon oft ( o ), German oft, Old Norse opt

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.

It has been oft noted by commentators who excel at statements of the obvious that Berkshire has enough cash to buy many of the world’s most-admired companies.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

The lie, oft repeated, becomes for many, the truth.

From Salon • Sep. 11, 2023

“I don’t know,” she was oft quoted as saying.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2023

Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

From BBC • May 5, 2023

I sat down in the chair she cleared oft for me, but she didn’t look at me or speak.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "oft" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com