periodically
Americanadverb
-
at irregular intervals of time; intermittently.
Internships of various types are available periodically.
You will need to recharge the battery periodically; the recharge interval will vary depending upon use.
-
at regular or somewhat regular intervals of time.
By periodically—perhaps monthly—performing this test, you can quantitatively assess the impact of your training.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of periodically
Explanation
When you do something periodically, you do it either occasionally or at regular intervals. Do you talk to your grandmother once every week or two? Then you can say you call her periodically. It's easy to get to the bottom of periodically by looking at the word period, in its sense of "course or extent of time." When things happen periodically, they occur after a period of time has passed, either a random length of time or a more regular interval: "That bird shows up at my window periodically" or "He periodically opens and closes the blinds just as the sun rises and sets."
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.
Wesson says that if you really need to check emails on holiday, then it's better to say, "I will be periodically checking emails," as it manages expectations.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
A historically hot summer on the planet's fastest-warming continent has contributed to the deaths of thousands of people -- and increased the risk of wildfires, with blazes periodically sweeping through parched landscapes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Treasury bonds that mature periodically between now and 30 years from now.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
At Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, they periodically serve a Māori-inspired, multi-course meal.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026
A nurse came in periodically to get his vital signs.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
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.
