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often
[ aw-fuhn, of-uhn; awf-tuhn, of- ]
/ ˈɔ fən, ˈɒf ən; ˈɔf tən, ˈɒf- /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adverb
many times; frequently: He visits his parents as often as he can.
in many cases.
adjective
Archaic. frequent.
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Origin of often
synonym study for often
1, 2. Often, frequently, generally, usually refer to experiences that are customary. Often and frequently may be used interchangeably in most cases, but often implies numerous repetitions and, sometimes, regularity of recurrence: We often go there; frequently suggests especially repetition at comparatively short intervals: It happens frequently. Generally refers to place and means universally: It is generally understood. He is generally liked; but it is often used as a colloquial substitute for usually. In this sense, generally, like usually, refers to time, and means in numerous instances. Generally, however, extends in range from the merely numerous to a majority of possible instances; whereas usually means practically always: The train is generally on time. We usually have hot summers.
how to pronounce often
Often was pronounced with a t -sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the [t] /t/ came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor. Common use of a spelling pronunciation has since restored the [t] /t/ for many speakers, and today [aw-fuhn] /ˈɔ fən/ and [awf-tuhn] /ˈɔf tən/ [or [of-uhn] /ˈɒf ən/ and [of-tuhn] /ˈɒf tən/ ] exist side by side. Although it is still sometimes criticized, often with a [t] /t/ is now so widely heard from educated speakers that it has become fully standard once again.
OTHER WORDS FROM often
of·ten·ness, nounWords nearby often
OFS, of sorts, Ofsted, oft, Oftel, often, often as not, oftentimes, of the devil, of the essence, of the first water
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use often in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for often
often
/ (ˈɒfən, ˈɒftən) /
adverb
frequently or repeatedly; much of the timeArchaic equivalents: oftentimes, ofttimes
as often as not quite frequently
every so often at intervals
more often than not in more than half the instances
adjective
archaic repeated; frequent
Word Origin for often
C14: variant of oft before vowels and h
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with often
often
see every now and then (so often); more often than not.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.