often

AW-fuhn/ˈɔfən/UKOF-uhn/ˈɒfən/

2 meanings of often

1
many timesadverb
Many times, again and again.
Like a clock that chimes again and again all through the day.
We often visit our grandparents on weekends.
She often forgets where she put her keys.
UsagePut it before the verb: we often visit. After be: she is often late.
Similarfrequently, typically
Oppositerarely, seldom, occasionally, infrequently
2
adjectivearchaic
Happening many times, again and again.
Note

Use it in a sentence

Write your own sentence with often, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.

Origin

From Old English 'oft', meaning 'often'. An -n was later added to the older form 'ofte'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Often descends from Old English oft, meaning often. en.wiktionary.org
Often developed from the older form ofte by addition of -n. en.wiktionary.org