DictionaryAI

often

AW-fuhn/ˈɔfən/UKOF-uhn/ˈɒfən/

2 meanings of often

Practice

  1. 1
    many timesadverb
    On many occasions; happening repeatedly at different times.

    Trains on this line are often delayed during the morning rush.

    He often works late to finish his most important projects.

    UsageUsually before the main verb but after be: he often works late, trains are often delayed. Compare with more often, most often.

    Similarfrequently, typically

    Oppositerarely, seldom, occasionally, infrequently

  2. 2
    adjectivearchaic
    Occurring or recurring frequently; happening many times over.
    Note

    An early modern use that set the adverb's form straight before a noun. Shakespeare's As You Like It has "my often rumination," and Bunyan's late work Solomon's Temple Spiritualiz'd has "an often remove."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Shakespeare's As You Like It exemplifies the early modern adjective before a noun with “my often rumination”; the speaker is Jaques. folgerdigitaltexts.org
    • Solomon's Temple Spiritualiz'd is by John Bunyan and was published in 1688, the year of his death, making it a late work. name.umdl.umich.edu
    • Solomon's Temple Spiritualiz'd contains the exact phrase “an often remove.” gutenberg.org

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Origin

From Middle English 'often', an altered form of 'ofte' or 'oft' (the final -n was added by analogy with 'selden', meaning 'seldom'). This came from Old English 'oft' and ultimately from Proto-Germanic, and is related to German 'oft' and Swedish 'ofta'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 6 facts