sporadically

[spuh-rad-ik-uh-lee]

adverb

1. every now and then; at irregular intervals in time.

   Ox-eye sunflowers bloom sporadically throughout the summer.

2. here and there; in scattered locations.

   Little candles, placed sporadically among the chapel pews, lit up people’s faces.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporadically¹

First recorded in 1675–85; sporadic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

Example Sentences

His England career has followed a pattern - he plays sporadically before a major tournament, then becomes a key player when they get there.

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Eyewitnesses described a large group of attackers, known locally as bandits, who arrived firing sporadically to cause panic.

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According to a security source consulted by AFP, "approximately 110 out of more than 700 gas stations are operating sporadically in the capital."

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His regime has shown itself sporadically willing to crack down on protest or detain more vocal critics.

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Vidal, the second-year running back who played sporadically last season, didn’t make the 53-man roster to begin the season.

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Related Words

• intermittently 
• now and then www.thesaurus.com
• occasionally 
• rarely 
• seldom 
• sparingly