often

of·ten

O0043900 (ô′fən, ŏf′ən, ôf′tən, ŏf′-)adv. of·ten·er, of·ten·est Many times; frequently.

[Middle English, alteration (probably influenced by selden, seldom) of oft, from Old English; see upo in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: The pronunciation of often with a (t) is a classic example of what is known as a spelling pronunciation. During the 1500s and 1600s, English experienced a widespread loss of certain consonant sounds within consonant clusters, as the (d) in handsome and handkerchief, the (p) in consumption and raspberry, and the (t) in chestnut and often. In this way the consonant clusters were simplified and made easier to articulate. But with the rise of public education and literacy in the 1800s, people became more aware of spelling, and sounds that had become silent were sometimes restored. This is the case with the (t) in often, which is acceptably pronounced with or without the (t). In similar words, such as soften and listen, the t has generally remained silent.

often

(ˈɒfən; ˈɒftən) adv1. frequently or repeatedly; much of the time. Also (archaic or US): oftentimes (archaic): ofttimes 2. as often as not quite frequently3. every so often at intervals4. more often than not in more than half the instancesadjarchaic repeated; frequent[C14: variant of oft before vowels and h]

of•ten

(ˈɔ fən, ˈɒf ən; ˈɔf tən, ˈɒf-)

adv. 1. many times; frequently. 2. in many cases. adj. 3. Archaic. frequent. [1300–50; Middle English; variant (before vowels) of ofte oft] syn: often, frequently, generally, usually refer to experiences that are habitual or customary. often and frequently are used interchangeably in most cases, but often implies numerous repetitions: We often go there; whereas frequently suggests repetition at comparatively short intervals: It happens frequently. generally emphasizes a broad or nearly universal quality: It is generally understood. He is generally liked. usually emphasizes time, and means in numerous instances: We usually have hot summers.

often

If something happens often, it happens many times.

1. position in clause

If there is no auxiliary verb, you put often in front of the verb, unless the verb is be. If the verb is be, you put often after it.

We often get very cold winters here.They were often hungry.

If there is an auxiliary verb, you put often after it.

She has often written about human rights.

If there is more than one auxiliary verb, you put often after the first one.

The idea had often been discussed.

If a sentence is fairly short, you can put often at the end of it.

He's in London often.

In writing, often is sometimes put at the beginning of a long sentence.

Often in the evening the little girl would be sitting at my knee while I held the baby.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'often' to talk about something that happens several times within a short period of time. Don't say, for example, 'I often phoned her yesterday'. You say 'I phoned her several times yesterday' or 'I kept phoning her yesterday'.

That fear was expressed several times last week.Rather than correct her, I kept trying to change the subject.2. other uses of 'often'

You use often with how when you are asking about the number of times that something happens or happened.

How often do you need to weigh the baby?How often have you done this programme?

Often can also be used for saying that something is done just once by many people, or that something is true about many people.

People often asked me why I didn't ride more during the trip.Older people often catch this disease.

Thesaurus

Adv.	1.	often - many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"frequently, oft, oftentimes, ofttimesrarely, seldom - not often; "we rarely met"
	2.	often - frequently or in great quantities; "I don't drink much"; "I don't travel much"a great deal, much
	3.	often - in many cases or instances

often

adverb frequently, much, generally, commonly, repeatedly, again and again, very often, oft (archaic or poetic), over and over again, time and again, habitually, time after time, customarily, oftentimes (archaic), not infrequently, many a time, ofttimes (archaic), ofN (S.M.S.) We often spend our holidays at home. I don't get out often.
never, rarely, occasionally, seldom, scarcely, now and then, irregularly, infrequently, hardly ever

often

adverbIn an expected or customary manner; for the most part:commonly, consistently, customarily, frequently, generally, habitually, naturally, normally, regularly, routinely, typically, usually.Idioms: as usual, per usual.

Translations

经常

often

(ˈofn) adverb many times. I often go to the theatre; I should see him more often.经常every so often sometimes; occasionally. I meet him at the club every so often. 有时，偶然

often

→ 经常zhCN

How often are the buses to ...? → 去...多长时间有一趟车？

often

as often as not

Frequently; more than half the time. The phrase is not always preceded by the adverb "as." As often as not, I end up disliking coming back to my hometown for a visit. I'll have a drink with dinner often as not.See also: not, often

bad workers always blame their tools

If someone performs a job or task poorly or unsuccessfully, they will usually lay the blame on the quality of their equipment, or other such external factors, rather than take responsibility for their own failure. The football player blamed the overinflated ball for costing his team the game, but as they say, bad workers always blame their tools.See also: always, bad, blame, tool, worker

(as) often as not

In most instances; usually; at least, if not more than, half the time. As often as not, Jamie's and David's debates end up turning into petty arguments. I find these introductory college courses to be, often as not, a rather boring waste of one's time.See also: not, often

the pitcher will go to the well once too often

A period of good luck will eventually end. I know that being on a winning streak is very exciting, but just remember that the pitcher will go to the well once too often. I'm sure he will continue to break the law until he gets caught. The pitcher will go to the well once too often.See also: go, often, once, pitcher, well, will

every so often

Sometimes; occasionally. Josh does stop by the store every so often, but I haven't seen him lately. I don't eat a lot of sweets, but every so often I just need a piece of chocolate cake.See also: every, often

(have done) more (something) than (one) has had hot dinners

Has more experience at something than the person one is referring to. Oh please, I've completed more of these reports than he's had hot dinners, so no, I'm not going to listen to any of his suggestions.See also: dinner, hot, more

more often than not

Much of the time. Tom is late more often than not—he just never gets caught.See also: more, not, often

once too often

One time too many; the latest in a series of actions, the one that finally results in notice, reprisal, punishment, or some other consequence. It seems he tried to hide his earnings from the IRS once too often, and is now facing a tax bill that could possibly bankrupt him. He'd insulted her once too often, so she packed up her things and left the house.See also: often, once

little and often fills the purse

Earning or save small amounts of money as frequently as possible will provide the income or savings that one needs. I never had a proper career, instead making my living by doing various jobs for people all around the city. I might not have had a fat paycheck at the end of each month, but little and often fills the purse. Try to get into the habit of dropping 10, 20, 30 dollars into a savings account whenever you can spare it—little and often fills the purse.See also: and, fill, little, often, purse

half the truth is often a whole lie

Not being completely honest can be as deceitful as lying; intentionally omitting information is equivalent to lying. I know you want to protect his feelings, but you really need to be honest with him. Half the truth is often a whole lie, you know.See also: half, lie, often, truth, whole

Half the truth is often a whole lie.

Prov. If you do not tell the whole truth, you can mislead people just as if you tell them an outright lie. Jill: You lied to me. Jane: I did not. Everything I said was true. Jill: But you didn't tell me the whole story. And half the truth is often a whole lie.See also: half, lie, often, truth, whole

Little and often fills the purse.

Prov. If you get a little bit of money frequently, you will always have enough. Jill: I don't think I'll ever be able to save very much; I can only afford to save such a little bit of money from every paycheck. Jane: Ah, but little and often fills the purse.See also: and, fill, little, often, purse

more often than not

Fig. usually. These flowers will live through the winter more often than not. This kind of dog will grow up to be a good watchdog more often than not.See also: more, not, often

every now and then

Also, every now and again; every once in a while; every so often. Occasionally, from time to time; also, periodically. For example, Every now and then I long for a piece of chocolate, or We take long walks every now and again, or Every once in a while he'll call, or Every so often she washes the car. The first term dates from the first half of the 1700s, the last from the mid-1900s. Also see from time to time; once in a while. See also: and, every, now

more often than not

Also, often as not. Fairly frequently, more than or at least half the time, as in More often than not we'll have dinner in the den, or Dean and Chris agree on travel plans, often as not. [First half of 1900s] See also: more, not, often

often as not

see under more often than not. See also: not, often

more .../more often than somebody has had hot ˈdinners

(informal, often humorous) used for emphasizing how much/many or how often somebody has done something: He’s won more medals than you’ve had hot dinners. ♢ She’s been to France more often than you’ve had hot dinners.See also: dinner, hot, more, often, somebody

ˌevery so ˈoften

occasionally: I usually drink tea, but every so often I have coffee after dinner.See also: every, often

(as) ˌoften as ˈnot

more ˌoften than ˈnot

frequently; usually: As often as not I watch TV after dinner.See also: not, often

ˌonce too ˈoften

used to say that somebody has done something wrong or stupid again, and this time they will suffer because of it: You’ve tried that trick once too often.See also: often, once

every so often

At intervals; occasionally.See also: every, often

go to the well too often

Keep calling on the same resource after it has been exhausted. This expression is a modern version of an ancient proverb, appearing in various ways and numerous languages from the fourteenth century on. Thomas Fuller (Gnomologia, 1732) put it, “The pitcher that often goes to the well comes home broken at last.”See also: go, often, well

often

of·ten

often

of•ten

often

often

often

often

often

often

as often as not

bad workers always blame their tools

(as) often as not

the pitcher will go to the well once too often

every so often

(have done) more (something) than (one) has had hot dinners

more often than not

once too often

little and often fills the purse

half the truth is often a whole lie

Half the truth is often a whole lie.

Little and often fills the purse.

more often than not

every now and then

more often than not

often as not

more .../more often than somebody has had hot ˈdinners

ˌevery so ˈoften

(as) ˌoften as ˈnot

more ˌoften than ˈnot

ˌonce too ˈoften

every so often

go to the well too often

often

Synonyms for often

adv frequently

Synonyms

Antonyms

Synonyms for often

adv in an expected or customary manner; for the most part

Synonyms

Synonyms for often

adv many times at short intervals

Synonyms

Antonyms

adv frequently or in great quantities

Synonyms