often
pronunciation
How to pronounce often in British English:
UK [ˈɒfn]
How to pronounce often in American English:
US [ˈɔːfn]
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- Adverb:
- many times at short intervals
- frequently or in great quantities
Word Origin
- often
- often: [14] Oft was the Old English word for ‘often’. It came from a prehistoric Germanic adverb of unknown origin, which also produced German oft, Swedish ofta, and Danish ofte. In early Middle English it was extended to ofte. This developed a form often before vowels and h, which by the 16th century had begun to oust oft(e).
- often (adv.)
- c. 1300, extended form of oft, originally before vowels and h-, probably by influence of Middle English selden "seldom." In common use from 16c., replacing oft.
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. You will see him often .
- 2. The reality is often different .
- 3. How often do we fart ?
- 4. The president often castigates corruption .
- 5. Specialist magazines are often expensive .