often
often
Pronunciation
often
/ˈɒfən/ or /ˈɒftən/
ɒf: /ɒf/ (or /ɒft/ in the /ˈɒftən/ pronunciation)
ən: /ən/
Word Form Variations
The word "often" is an adverb and therefore does not have typical word form variations like singular/plural (for nouns), or different tenses/persons (for verbs). It does not have comparative or superlative forms (e.g., "oftener," "oftenest") in common modern usage, although these forms have historically existed.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: On many occasions; frequently or repeatedly.
Synonyms: frequently, repeatedly, regularly, commonly, habitually, routinely
Antonyms: rarely, seldom, infrequently, uncommonly, scarcely
Definition 2: In a large number of instances or cases.
Synonyms: very many times, numerous times, on multiple occasions
Antonyms: hardly ever, almost never, once in a while
Examples of Use
Books: "I have often thought that the best way to get to know any country is to walk it." (Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard, 1978)
Newspapers: "The mayor often emphasized the importance of community engagement in her public addresses." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Cybersecurity breaches often stem from human error, rather than sophisticated hacking techniques." (TechCrunch)
Entertainment Mediums (Film Dialogue): "You know, people often say that about me." (From the film Forrest Gump, 1994)
Entertainment Platforms (Song Lyrics): "I often dream of you, and wonder where you are." (From the song "Often" by The Weeknd, 2014)
General Public Discourse: "My grandmother often tells stories about growing up during the war."
General Public Discourse (Social Media Post): "It's a beautiful day, but it often rains unexpectedly this time of year."
10 Quotes Using Often
"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." (Winston Churchill)
"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much." (Robert Louis Stevenson)
"A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it." (Jean de La Fontaine)
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." (Leo Buscaglia)
"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." (Arthur Ashe)
"I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." (Ronald Reagan)
"The husband who decides to surprise his wife is often very much surprised himself." (Voltaire)
"The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided." (Napoleon Bonaparte)
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." (Zig Ziglar)
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." (Vladimir Lenin)
Etymology
The word "often" has a long history in the English language, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
It comes from the Old English word "oft," which already meant "repeatedly," "again and again," or "many times." This "oft" then came from a even older Proto-Germanic word, "*ufta," which also meant "frequently."
So, the core meaning of "many times" or "frequently" has been with the word for a very long time.
The interesting part is how "oft" became "often." In Middle English, around the 13th to 14th century, the word "oft" started to be altered by adding an "-n" to the end. This was likely influenced by other similar words that ended in "-n," especially "seldom" (which in Middle English was "selden"). It was like making the two opposite words sound a bit more alike.
So, while "oft" existed first, "often" became more common in the 16th century and eventually replaced "oft" in everyday use, though "oft" still pops up in poetry or older phrases like "oft-told tale."
Regarding the "t" sound, it was actually pronounced in "often" until about the 17th century. Over time, for various reasons (including possibly the influence of prominent speakers like Queen Elizabeth I), the "t" became silent for many, similar to how it's silent in words like "soften" or "listen." However, due to spelling, the "t" pronunciation has made a comeback for many speakers, and now both pronunciations are commonly accepted.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Often
Often as not: As likely as not; usually.
More often than not: In the majority of cases; usually.
How often: A question inquiring about frequency.
Oft-repeated: Said or done many times.
Oft-told tale: A story that has been told many times.
As often as you like: As many times as one desires.
Quite often: Fairly frequently.
Not often: Rarely.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): A common collection of questions and answers. (Uses a synonym for "often" for similar effect).
Many a time: Frequently; on numerous occasions. (Uses "many" to convey frequency, similar to "often").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of often from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
