sporadically

American  

[spuh-rad-ik-uh-lee] / spəˈræd ɪk ə li /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of sporadically

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

Example Sentences

Since the 1970s - when Britain ended trading agreements that had shored up New Zealand's economy and Australia introduced loosened work and travel restrictions - the outflow of people has surged sporadically.

From BBC

Now luxury hotels and shopping malls, high-rise apartment blocks, state-of-the-art airport departure terminals are getting sporadically hit as gaps appear in the Arab states' air defences in the Gulf.

From BBC

Once the Advance had sailed far enough north, letters could only be sent or received sporadically, when passed from ship to ship.

From Literature

Nvidia’s share price has gone through other periods of turbulence over the past three years, as investors have sporadically worried about blowout AI spending creating a bubble that could suddenly burst.

From The Wall Street Journal

Williams has played only sporadically in recent years.

From Barron's

Related Words

• intermittently
• now and then
• occasionally
• rarely
• seldom
• sparingly