oftentimes
Americanadverb
Usage
What does oftentimes mean? Oftentimes is another way of saying often or frequently. It’s used to give an idea of how frequently something happens or is done. Something that happens occasionally happens sometimes. Something that happens oftentimes happens a lot (though maybe not all the time). Oftentimes is an adverb, meaning it’s typically used to describe verbs. It’s oftentimes associated with habitual actions. A less common variant of oftentimes is ofttimes. Example: He would oftentimes take his dog for a walk in the woods to clear his head.
Etymology
Origin of oftentimes
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at often, time, -s 1
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.
“The technology that we love is oftentimes the thing getting in the way of us doing what matters in our lives,” Driver said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
My guess is oftentimes there will be some truth in what each side says, but never the full truth.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
You also have to pay for movers, security deposits, and, let’s not forget, buying furniture for each apartment because oftentimes the furniture you bought for one apartment won’t fit in another.
From MarketWatch ● May 29, 2026
She currently shares a car with her boyfriend and they coordinate daily dropoffs and pickups, oftentimes inconveniencing one of them.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
Dr. Webb says that life is so full of complications and confusion that humans oftentimes find it hard to cope.
From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley
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.
