frequent

1 of 2

verb

frequented; frequenting; frequents

transitive verb

1
: to associate with, be in, or resort to often or habitually
a bar frequented by sports fans
a restaurant frequented by local politicians
2
archaic : to read systematically or habitually
frequentation noun
frequenter noun

frequent

2 of 2

adjective

fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
a
: common, usual
a frequent practice among these people
b
: happening at short intervals : often repeated or occurring
a bus making frequent stops
2
obsolete : full, thronged
3
: acting or returning regularly or often
a frequent visitor
a frequent customer
4
archaic : intimate, familiar
frequentness noun

Examples of frequent in a Sentence

Verb He began frequenting cheap bars. a neighborhood frequented by tourists a restaurant frequented by local politicians Adjective We made frequent trips to town. This bus makes frequent stops. She was a frequent visitor to the museum. He is one of our most frequent customers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
White-sand beaches frequented by surfers and fresh seafood add to Aveiro's allure among expats. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2024 Indeed, his 11-year-old shih tzu, named D, is the chief treat tester, and frequents Chewy’s office with him. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024 The buzzy New York City neighborhood, which includes Times Square and Madison Square Garden, is frequented by business professionals and tourists alike. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024 White went clubbing in downtown Sacramento nearly every weekend two years ago and testified about how different gangs also frequented the area. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024 The Office of Public Health and Safety will have representatives in areas frequented by juveniles during the evening hours to engage with them as well. Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024 Peacocks have long been known to frequent the rural neighborhood, often visiting residents’ homes at the start and end of each day, searching for food. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Natural predators: Encourage natural predators of cicadas, such as birds, to frequent your yard by providing bird feeders or bird baths. The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024 The musician, understandably, doesn’t frequent those events much anymore. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
Adjective
For aerobic exercise like brisk walking or jogging, start slow and gradually increase speed by taking longer strides or more frequent strides. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024 In time, the bets became more frequent and of higher denominations, amounting to thousands of wagers. Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 The pop-cultural references became more frequent, the casting choices more overtly celebrity-driven (Ryan Seacrest has a cameo in the fourth one, for some reason). Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024 Or wondering who will care for your mother whose dementia is progressing rapidly hundreds of miles away, and whose emergency room visits have become more frequent and frightening as the months go by. Dawn Huckelbridge, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024 The red-brick building is somewhat notorious for being an eyesore and frequent source of neighborhood complaints. Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024 As any frequent traveler can tell you, flying can sometimes be a drag. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024 Climate change is making heatwaves more intense and frequent, and heatwaves pose greater risks to older adults, like the plaintiffs in this landmark suit. Justine Calma, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024 Englewood’s shootings have become less frequent, the Blackwells say. Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frequent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, ample, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frequent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frequent

Cite this Entry

“Frequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frequent. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

frequent

1 of 2 adjective
fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt How to pronounce frequent (audio)
1
: happening often
made frequent trips to town
2
: regular entry 1 sense 3b, habitual
a frequent visitor to the museum
frequently adverb
frequentness noun

frequent

2 of 2 verb
fre·​quent frē-ˈkwent How to pronounce frequent (audio)
ˈfrē-kwənt
: to visit, associate with, or go to often
frequents the library
frequenter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frequent

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