occasionally

adverb

oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly ə-ˈkā-zh(ə-)nə-lē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: on occasion : now and then
dines out occasionally
We occasionally see deer in the field.

Examples of occasionally in a Sentence

Occasionally, things don't go as planned. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web During that time, large trucks would occasionally park on her narrow street in Highland Park. Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Though the majority of her content is in English, Nara does speak both languages and has occasionally made some of her cooking TikToks in German, including a January 2024 video showcasing a recipe for German pancakes. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, avoid potholes, and look down occasionally. Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024 Officers occasionally stopped the belt to pick out and open a suspicious parcel. Didi Tang, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 2024 Suzie, who is also navigating a custody battle and occasionally using recreational drugs, melts down, and Piper viscerally conveys the sensation of feeling one’s life come undone. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, heat milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until butter is completely melted and a thermometer inserted in milk mixture registers 120°F, about 5 minutes. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 In a small sauté pan over medium-low heat, add the sesame seeds and swirl or toss occasionally until toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Adrienne Cheatham, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Some parts of the state have been without power for several days as temperatures overnight occasionally dropped into the low 30s. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occasionally.' 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

Middle English occasionaly "on a particular occasion, sometimes," from occasyonal occasional + -ly -ly entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near occasionally

Cite this Entry

“Occasionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occasionally. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

occasionally

adverb
oc·​ca·​sion·​al·​ly -ē How to pronounce occasionally (audio)
: from time to time
occasionally goes to the movies

More from Merriam-Webster on occasionally

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