oftenof‧ten /ˈɒfən, ˈɒftən $ ˈɒːf-/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb 
She often works at the weekend. If you wash your hair too often, it can get too dry. How often do you see your parents?quite/very often I quite often go to Paris on business. Robin is a difficult child; you’ve said so yourself often enough (=a lot of times).it is not often (that) It’s not often that a government minister will admit to being wrong.2if something happens often, it happens in many situations or cases: It’s often difficult to translate poetry.very/quite often Very often children who behave badly at school have problems at home.3all too often (also only too often) used to say that something sad, disappointing, or annoying happens too much: All too often doctors are too busy to explain the treatment to their patients. This type of accident happens only too often.4every so often sometimes: An inspector comes round every so often to check the safety equipment.5as often as not (also more often than not) spoken usually: More often than not the train is late.GRAMMAR: Word order• Often usually comes before a verb:· I often go to bed late.• Often usually comes after the verb ‘be’:· She is often late.• Often usually comes after an auxiliary verb such as ‘do’ or ‘have’: · I have often wondered what happened to him.• Often is used at the beginning of a sentence, especially when something seems surprising: · Often I don’t go to bed until 2 a.m.• Often is also used at the end of a sentence: · Do you go to bed late often?Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSTHESAURUSoften used when saying that something happens many times: · Gary was often bad-tempered in the morning.· We often meet up for a drink after work.a lot informal often: · I think she likes him – she talks about him a lot.· His wife goes abroad on business a lot.frequently especially written often – used especially in writing or more formal English: · Passengers complain that trains are frequently late.· Older patients frequently forget to take their medicine.regularly often, especially at regular intervals: · Buses run regularly every ten minutes.again and again used to emphasize that someone does something many times, or the same thing happens many times: · She told herself again and again that everything would be all right.· Gunfire rang out across the city again and again.repeatedly especially written used to emphasize that someone does something many times: · His doctor had repeatedly warned him not to work so hard.constantly/continually often over a long period of time – used especially about something that is annoying or causes problems: · They seem to be continually arguing.· It’s hard to keep up with technology when it’s constantly changing.time and time again many times – used when this is annoying or does not have any effect: · He forgets his keys time and time again.· I tell students time and time again to keep careful notes.to often happen or do somethingtend to do something to often do a particular thing and be likely to do it: · Dave tends to arrive late so don’t worry.· Girls tend to be better at languages than boys.have a tendency to do something to often do something, especially something that is not good, and be more likely to do it than other people or things: · Some people have a tendency to put on weight.· This type of cloth has a tendency to shrink.be inclined to do something to do something fairly often or be fairly likely to do it, especially because this is part of your character: · Teenage boys are inclined to take risks.· She was inclined to giggle in class.have a habit of doing something used when saying that something has happened many times before and is likely to happen again: · Ben had a habit of coming home drunk.· Life has a habit of surprising people.be prone to something to be more likely to have problems: · Some older computer systems were prone to go wrong.· The fitter you are, the less you are prone to injury.· plants that are prone to disease
WORD ORIGINoften
Origin:
1200-1300 oftEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Have you ever been to the China Moon Café?" "Yes -- we go there quite often."
- Dad wasn't often angry so I knew something terrible must have happened.
- I often see her walking past with the children on the way to school.
- I have a cell phone, but I don't use it very often.
- It's not often I get the chance to go to the movies.
- It's not often that you see a grass snake these days -- they've become quite rare.
- Rosi often works till 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening.
- The information is all there, but it's often difficult to find it.
- Book publishers have created Internet sites before, but they often are heavily promotional, resembling order catalogs.
- He often got me out of bed, late on an evening, to run an errand.
- I often caught myself staring into a mirror, wondering who that was staring back.
- In modern mills, grain is stored in silos which are often separate from the mill and near to a bulk intake point.
- Institutions often have their own expectations, and provided all are agreed within an institution the teacher may draw on them.
- Investors often repurchase those shares during the first few days of the new year.
- The veins are often only a metre or two wide.
- They serve this function probably more often than the one they were created for.
THESAURUS
used when saying that something happens many times: · Gary was often bad-tempered in the morning.· We often meet up for a drink after work.
informal often: · I think she likes him – she talks about him a lot.· His wife goes abroad on business a lot.
especially written often – used especially in writing or more formal English: · Passengers complain that trains are frequently late.· Older patients frequently forget to take their medicine.
often, especially at regular intervals: · Buses run regularly every ten minutes.
used to emphasize that someone does something many times, or the same thing happens many times: · She told herself again and again that everything would be all right.· Gunfire rang out across the city again and again.
especially written used to emphasize that someone does something many times: · His doctor had repeatedly warned him not to work so hard.
often over a long period of time – used especially about something that is annoying or causes problems: · They seem to be continually arguing.· It’s hard to keep up with technology when it’s constantly changing.
many times – used when this is annoying or does not have any effect: · He forgets his keys time and time again.· I tell students time and time again to keep careful notes.
to often happen or do something to often do a particular thing and be likely to do it: · Dave tends to arrive late so don’t worry.· Girls tend to be better at languages than boys.
to often do something, especially something that is not good, and be more likely to do it than other people or things: · Some people have a tendency to put on weight.· This type of cloth has a tendency to shrink.
to do something fairly often or be fairly likely to do it, especially because this is part of your character: · Teenage boys are inclined to take risks.· She was inclined to giggle in class.
used when saying that something has happened many times before and is likely to happen again: · Ben had a habit of coming home drunk.· Life has a habit of surprising people.
to be more likely to have problems: · Some older computer systems were prone to go wrong.· The fitter you are, the less you are prone to injury.· plants that are prone to disease
Longman Language Activatorwhen something happens many times · I often see her walking past with the children on the way to school.· Dad wasn't often angry so I knew something terrible must have happened.quite often · "Have you ever been to the China Moon Café?" "Yes -- we go there quite often."not very often · I have a cell phone, but I don't use it very often.it's not often (that) somebody does something · It's not often that you see a grass snake these days -- they've become quite rare.· It's not often I get the chance to go to the movies.
spoken if you do something a lot , you often do it: · It's nice to meet you. Wendy's talked about you a lot.· I used to walk a lot, but I've been very lazy recently.quite a lot British: · She goes abroad on business quite a lot.
often - used especially in writing or more formal speech: · Passengers complain that trains are frequently cancelled.· You have to be willing to change jobs frequently if you want to get to the top in business.· Frequently, she would find herself gazing out of the window lost in thought.
use this to emphasize that someone did something many times: · Graham's doctor had repeatedly warned him not to work so hard.· Max was punched and kicked repeatedly as he lay on the ground.· Al Gore has stated repeatedly, that the American economy is dependent upon a healthy environment.
use this to emphasize that the same thing has happened many times: · She kept asking the same question again and again.· Again and again I was thrown upwards from my bunk as the ship battled through the storm.
spoken say this when you are emphasizing that someone has done something many times in the past: · It was a sound he'd heard thousands of times before.· My grandmother must have spoken to him hundreds of times but, surprisingly, she didn't know his name.· I've been rejected hundreds of times, but if you don't try you never will get a job, will you?
if someone has done something many times , they have done it often: somebody has/had done something many times (before): · I had walked down this road many times before, but somehow today it seemed different.as somebody has/had done many times (before): · The woman upstairs shouted down at us and threatened to call the police, as she had done many times before.· I looked down at the town, as I had done so many times as a young man, and remembered the people I had known there.
too often, in a way that is annoying especially spoken to do something many times, in a way that is annoying: · Dad, Bobby keeps hitting me!· How can I explain if you keep on interrupting me?· I keep forgetting to mail this letter.
if someone or something is always doing something, or someone or something does something all the time , it annoys you because they do it too often: · I'm sick of Harold, he's always telling me what to do.· What do you mean you never see me? You're at my house all the time.· I don't know about you, but I'm always having arguments with people!· He was always trying to persuade me to go out drinking with him.
use this when you are very annoyed because something happens repeatedly over a long period of time: · They seemed to be continually arguing.· I wish you'd clean up your room without having to be constantly reminded.
spoken if someone or something is forever doing something, they annoy you by doing it very often over a long period of time: · He never does his homework on time and is forever getting into trouble at school.· We bought a new washing machine. The old one was forever breaking down.
spoken say this when you are describing something annoying or bad that someone does very often: · Half the time the managers don't know what's going on.· I never know where he is - half the time he doesn't return my phone calls.
use this to say that something has been done many times, especially when this is annoying or does not have any effect: · I've told you time and time again not to play with matches - it's dangerous.· I see people making the same mistakes, time and time again.
if something happens with great regularity , it keeps happening, often in an annoying way: · Yes, the bank keep piling these outrageous charges on my bank account with great regularity.· With great regularity, wasps would fly in through the open window and get trapped behind the glass.
if someone talks about something ad nauseam , they talk about it for so long that it becomes very annoying or boring: · We've discussed this ad nauseam, and I don't see the point of going over the same ground again.· He goes on ad nauseam about how much better everything was in the old days.
ways of saying what someone or something often does to often do a particular thing, and be likely to do it: · Dave tends to arrive late, so don't worry yet.· The problem with this model of car is that the gearbox tends to seize up.· My father tends to interfere too much in other people's business.· Recent studies show that girls tend to be better at languages than boys.
to often do something and be more likely to do it than other people or things are: · Divorced people have a tendency to live with new partners rather than marry again.· It's poor quality cloth, with a tendency to shrink.· Eliott's family has a tendency to put on weight, and so his parents enrolled him in a special gym for kids.
if someone is inclined to do something, they do it fairly often or are fairly likely to do it, especially because they have a particular type of character: · Victor is inclined to be somewhat domineering.· Middle-class victims of crime are more inclined to contact the police.
use this when you are warning someone that something has happened before and is likely to happen again: · Be careful not to annoy the boss. He has a habit of losing his temper.· We shouldn't rule out a Democrat victory yet. These things have a habit of changing just when you least expect it.
formal to often do something or be likely to do something, especially at a particular time or in a particular situation: · He was apt to get very upset when things went wrong.· The pond was apt to dry up during summer.
often happening or often done · His job involved making frequent trips to Saudi Arabia.· The doctor recommended frequent salt baths to help the wound heal.· My duties brought me into frequent contact with Captain Nagumo. · As the treatment began to take effect, her headaches became less frequent.frequent visitor/traveller/flier etc (=someone who visits, uses something etc frequently) · As a frequent business traveler, I have spent many nights in bland hotel rooms. · Simmons is a frequent guest on daytime TV talk shows.
repeated actions are done on several occasions, especially because they do not have any effect at first: · The torture involved repeated beatings and electric shock treatment.· There have been repeated requests for the United Nations to send peace-keeping forces to the area.· Massieu remains a free man, despite repeated attempts to arrest him on murder and drug charges.
done often as a habit, especially when this is annoying to other people: · Ingrained attitudes and habitual ways of thinking are very difficult to change.· Tony's habitual laziness became even more extreme in winter, and he would sometimes stay in bed until mid afternoon.habitual drinker/gambler/drug user/offender/felon etc (=someone who does something bad or illegal): · My father was a habitual gambler, until my mother packed her bags and threatened to leave.· It is estimated that as many as half the young men in the community are habitual drug users.
use this about things that annoy you because they happen repeatedly over a long time: · It's impossible to work with these constant interruptions.· We've had continual problems with the computer system ever since it was installed.
how often something happens · How often do you see your parents?· What should you feed a puppy and how often?· When Peter said I was heartless it made me wonder how often I'd shown my lack of sympathy.· It's amazing how often this kind of thing happens.
· How many times has she been married?· I can't remember how many times I've been to New York.how many times a day/week/year etc · How many times a week do you go swimming?· The doctor wanted to know how many times I went to the toilet in a day.
exactly how often something happens: · The computer can tell you the number of times a word occurs in a piece of writing such as a book.· The rate of respiration is the number of times the patient breathes in and out during a given period.· Try to increase the number of times you exercise per week.
the number of times that something happens during a particular period of time: frequency of: · The frequency of mining accidents has steadily decreased over the past 20 years.high frequency (=happening very often): · The high frequency of cases of diarrhoea is attributable to poor food hygiene.with increasing frequency (=more and more frequently): · Crimes of this type are happening with increasing frequency.
rarely/not often not at all often. Seldom is more formal than rarely and is used especially in written English: · The Queen rarely speaks to journalists.· Discipline is rarely a problem in this school.· They're a very nice young couple, although I very seldom see them.rarely does/has somebody: · Very rarely do we have a complaint from any of our customers.· Seldom have I seen such a miraculous recovery in one of my patients.rarely/seldom, if ever: · Anti-government demonstrations do occur, but they are seldom, if ever, reported in the press.
· I don't often see my grandchildren.· Sometimes, but not very often, Pippa persuaded her father to lend her his car.· Tina didn't get to work until ten o'clock this morning, which is unusual because she's not often late.it's not often (that) · Of course I'm going to take the job, it's not often that you get a chance like this.
almost never: · My grandmother hardly ever goes out of the house.· She's hardly ever ill.· We scarcely ever walk through the town without meeting someone we know.· There used to be a lot of disputes over land boundaries but nowadays such problems scarcely ever arise.
informal extremely rarely: · I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.· Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
not happening often something that is rare does not happen often: · Snow is a rare sight here, except on the mountains.· On the rare occasions when we had to work hard, we enjoyed it.· In a rare moment of vanity, Carl removed his glasses.it is rare for somebody/something to do something: · It is very rare for anyone to actually die from bee stings in this country.
fairly rare: · Crimes against elderly people are still uncommon.· Her time in hospital had given her an empathy with her patients not common among physicians.it is uncommon to do something: · When I was young it was uncommon to see a man pushing a baby buggy.
spoken if you say you don't often see something, find something etc, you mean this happens only very rarely: · You don't often find really good tropical fruit in this country.· We had over 200 replies. You don't often get such a good response from an advert.
formal not happening often: · As time went on, her visits became more and more infrequent.· Cases of typhoid are relatively infrequent in Northern Europe.· Roger's infrequent letters home did not reveal much about his personal life.
sometimes on some occasions, but not always: · Sometimes I drive to work and sometimes I walk.· Traffic noise is sometimes a problem.· The journey takes about an hour, sometimes even longer.· Injuries of this type sometimes take a long time to heal.
use this to talk about something that only happens a few times, and does not happen often: · Occasionally we go out to restaurants, but mostly we eat at home.· Kay's moods sometimes made life difficult, and occasionally impossible.very occasionally (=not at all often): · He lives in Australia now, so we only see him very occasionally.
at fairly regular periods but not often: · Every so often, Frank looked up at me and smiled.· The silence was broken every so often by the sound of guns in the distance.
sometimes but not at all often: · It would be nice if we could see each other once in a while.· Teaching art can be fairly dull, but once in a while I come across a talent that really excites me.every once in a while (=fairly rarely): · Every once in a while he disappears for days on end.
if something happens at times , it happens on particular occasions but it is not normal or typical of what usually happens: · In a job like this, you're bound to feel a little stressed at times.· At times even the most talented athletes lose their motivation.
use this to talk about something that sometimes happens that is different from what happens most of the time: · I wear hats now and again, but they don't really suit me.· Now and then she would check on the baby sleeping in the next room.every now and again/every now and then: · Every now and again a passenger would pass through the carriage on the way to the bathroom.
sometimes, but not at all regularly and not very often: · This is the kind of problem that we all have from time to time.· From time to time a helicopter flew by, but mostly the sky remained clear.
especially spoken for short periods, but not continuously or regularly, over a long period of time: · We've been going out together for five years, off and on. · I worked in bars on and off for two years before I decided to go back to college.
not what usually happens · We had snow in April, which is very unusual.· She had an unusual last name - Peachtree or Plumtree or something like that.· I first met Maria in unusual circumstances -- we were both stuck in a Brazilian airport.it is unusual to do something · It is unusual to find lakes of this size in Britain.it is unusual for somebody to do something · We were beginning to worry. It was unusual for David to be so late.
something that is extraordinary is very unusual because it would normally be very unlikely to happen or exist: · The man's story was so extraordinary that I didn't know whether to believe him or not.· He said it was an extraordinary decision and would send many industries spinning into recession.an extraordinary thing to do/say/happen: · She left her husband, and in 1912 that was an extraordinary thing to do.quite/most extraordinary British (=very extraordinary): · The whole incident had been quite extraordinary.
an exceptional situation is very unusual and happens very rarely: · A few of the top executives are women, but this is still exceptional.in exceptional circumstances/cases: · Exit visas are only given in exceptional circumstances.
something that is uncommon or not common is unusual because it does not happen very often: · The disease mostly affects older people, and is not common among people under 50.it is uncommon/not common (for somebody) to do something: · It is uncommon for small babies to sleep more than four hours without waking.
spoken say you don't usually see, find, hear etc something when it is very unusual to see it, find it etc: · You don't usually see rabbits of this size.· You don't often get people ringing up in the middle of the night to say they've found a body in the bath.
unusual and surprising or special: · Something out of the ordinary happened to us that night.· The goalkeeper did not have to do anything out of the ordinary to keep his side in the game.
a special occasion, situation, method etc is one that is different from what normally happens, and usually better: · There were special security arrangements for the President's visit.· The prince said he didn't want any special treatment in his new school.special event/occasion: · I would only buy expensive shoes for a special event such as a wedding.· a book of recipes for every day and special occasions tooin special circumstances: · Prisoners are only allowed to visit their families in special circumstances.
: freak accident/storm/conditions etc an accident, storm etc that is very unusual and unexpected: · He broke his leg in a freak training accident.· A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.· Two planes were lifted up and thrown across the tarmac by a freak gust of wind.
off-beat films, designs, ideas etc are unusual and often seem interesting or humorous because they are so different from the usual ones: · We had some really offbeat ideas for T-shirt designs.· Movies featuring original or offbeat material are rarely big box-office successes.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY How often do you see your parents? I quite often go to Paris on business. Robin is a difficult child; you’ve said so yourself often enough (=a lot of times). Very often children who behave badly at school have problems at home.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
How often do you see your parents? I quite often go to Paris on business. Robin is a difficult child; you’ve said so yourself often enough (=a lot of times). Very often children who behave badly at school have problems at home.· Lawyers, on the other hand, often call for changing even settled practice in midgame.· She's got an ear for birding and often calls them to her.· This type of exchange is often called by anthropologists gift exchange.· Memory for motor skills is often called procedural memory.· The temporary molars, or caps as they are often called, usually present no problems and are relatively soft.· Stuffed hard-boiled eggs, most often called deviled eggs, can be spicy, plain or very exotic.· The kind of associative learning shown by rats and pigeons in these experiments is often called conditioning.· When I write of consciousness I shall mean what is often called self-consciousness, rather than awareness of sensations or perceptions.
· Parents often feel helpless, knowing that all the cuddles in the world won't stop the tears.· I often felt more inspired writing in a tearoom than in the newsroom.· Scene tumbles upon scene, without any sense of the disjuncture one so often feels in lesser writers.· Although I often feel bad because of Roy, I tell myself I can handle it.· I have not often coldness with you, sweet heart; yet I often feel that you teach me to love you.· People in despair very often feel that there are only two roads open to them in life.· Of course that is a word that I often feel evades the issue.· Though she hates confrontation, she often feels she must speak out.
· The drop-out rate is far lower, and patients often find it more acceptable.· Sometimes the brawls erupted in public; the future candidate often found himself in the back of a patrol car.· He believes that a writer will often find himself through exposure to some other writer.· These pretty little fish are quite often found in empty conch shells.· We have often found people will nod and agree to the principles but never put them into practice.· The band often finds a radio-ravaged fan after a show who expresses surprise and delight in the retro sound.· She quite often found herself thinking Alix's thoughts.· And if we do not have the right drugs for a particular adjustment, research on orthodox lines will often find one.
· History dominates this issue, and what is fascinating is the way themes so often seem to connect up.· In fact, the gene-altered products often seem little different from ordinary varieties when lined up on store shelves.· Either way, the free sections often seem to outstay their welcome.· But who was counting when the performances often seemed to transcend national borders?· In such circumstances education becomes much more than the dead-end routine it so often seems in the industrialized world.· Pregnancy often seems unreal, and something which will not happen to them.· The Black Dog are at the forefront of a pack which often seems to have no desire to come out of the woodwork.· No, Minter was motivated more by the unreasoning malice which individual achievement seemed often to inspire in others.
· They are increasingly sophisticated machines, often using high quality aluminium and titanium alloys, spin offs from the aerospace industry.· These high-dividend stocks are often used as an alternative to bonds.· Companies often use details of education to plot out salary curves and promotion prospects.· The garden was often used by the target for a short relaxing walk.· Dark green arugula, often used as a stand-alone salad green, has a peppery and slightly bitter flavor.· Yellow ochre is a colour I often use for both undercoats and overpainting, having a good semi-transparent quality.· But while making these treats, questions about ingredients, substitutions or the best pan to use often crop up.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1if something happens often, it happens regularly or many times SYN frequently: - I've seen cases of this kind of child abuse all too often.
- But what should be a happy and fulfilling experience all too often is not.
- Farmers still have the problem of overcoming the stigma which all too often young people attach to working on the land.
- In regard to the use of field interviewers, the social and psychological aspects of studies are all too often ignored.
- It is somehow reassuring that, all too often, there is a not a table to be had.
- Sadly, their struggles all too often end up in disillusionment and sometimes, in death.
- Successful experiments all too often remain marginal, if they have no political clout.
- The first time they're a novelty, after that they're all too often an irritation.
- Yet gays turning to churches and other institutions for help all too often were told not to worry.
- Every so often we go down to the beach.
- Every so often, Frank looked up at me and smiled.
- The silence was broken every so often by the sound of guns in the distance.
- And every so often a transvestite would swagger past, some more obvious than others.
- I come and visit him every so often.
- I followed Mundin into the shed, turning every so often and glowering at Fifi, who trailed behind us.
- It looked as though it weighed a ton and seemed to quiver every so often.
- It will do that every so often on your birthday.
- The every so often it was mopped, the every so often sprayed.
- They talked in a close huddle and every so often would both turn round and look at me.
- Hits us below the belt as often as not.
- In fact, as often as not, customers were more interested in the software than the hardware.
- In the small coal communities, the pit was as often as not the sole source of wage-earning incomes.
- Instead, I follow my country's football progress as often as not alone.
- It's the men now, as often as not, who hear the biological clock ticking loudest.
- Lies, as often as not.
- The farm worker has himself contributed, though as often as not by leaving the industry rather than by joining a trade union.
- Young people do not want to live in them, when as often as not work means agriculture or nothing.
- The kids rang Brant's doorbell once too often, and he reported them to the police.
- But not Luke Denner - he's humiliated me once too often!
- He'd said it once too often, and this time she'd taken him at his word.
- He got into trouble once too often and wound up in continuation school.
- I can only assume she tried once too often to enter the nest, as the female died during the night.
- It had failed him in a crisis and that was once too often.
- Maybe she just turned him down once too often.
- One of these people had looked in my direction once too often, passed by once again just a little too slowly.
- Until, that is, it lived up to its original name once too often!
She often works at the weekend. If you wash your hair too often, it can get too dry. How often do you see your parents?quite/very often I quite often go to Paris on business. Robin is a difficult child; you’ve said so yourself often enough (=a lot of times).it is not often (that) It’s not often that a government minister will admit to being wrong.2if something happens often, it happens in many situations or cases: It’s often difficult to translate poetry.very/quite often Very often children who behave badly at school have problems at home.3all too often (also only too often) used to say that something sad, disappointing, or annoying happens too much: All too often doctors are too busy to explain the treatment to their patients. This type of accident happens only too often.4every so often sometimes: An inspector comes round every so often to check the safety equipment.5as often as not (also more often than not) spoken usually: More often than not the train is late.GRAMMAR: Word order• Often usually comes before a verb:· I often go to bed late.• Often usually comes after the verb ‘be’:· She is often late.• Often usually comes after an auxiliary verb such as ‘do’ or ‘have’: · I have often wondered what happened to him.• Often is used at the beginning of a sentence, especially when something seems surprising: · Often I don’t go to bed until 2 a.m.• Often is also used at the end of a sentence: · Do you go to bed late often?Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSTHESAURUSoften used when saying that something happens many times: · Gary was often bad-tempered in the morning.· We often meet up for a drink after work.a lot informal often: · I think she likes him – she talks about him a lot.· His wife goes abroad on business a lot.frequently especially written often – used especially in writing or more formal English: · Passengers complain that trains are frequently late.· Older patients frequently forget to take their medicine.regularly often, especially at regular intervals: · Buses run regularly every ten minutes.again and again used to emphasize that someone does something many times, or the same thing happens many times: · She told herself again and again that everything would be all right.· Gunfire rang out across the city again and again.repeatedly especially written used to emphasize that someone does something many times: · His doctor had repeatedly warned him not to work so hard.constantly/continually often over a long period of time – used especially about something that is annoying or causes problems: · They seem to be continually arguing.· It’s hard to keep up with technology when it’s constantly changing.time and time again many times – used when this is annoying or does not have any effect: · He forgets his keys time and time again.· I tell students time and time again to keep careful notes.to often happen or do somethingtend to do something to often do a particular thing and be likely to do it: · Dave tends to arrive late so don’t worry.· Girls tend to be better at languages than boys.have a tendency to do something to often do something, especially something that is not good, and be more likely to do it than other people or things: · Some people have a tendency to put on weight.· This type of cloth has a tendency to shrink.be inclined to do something to do something fairly often or be fairly likely to do it, especially because this is part of your character: · Teenage boys are inclined to take risks.· She was inclined to giggle in class.have a habit of doing something used when saying that something has happened many times before and is likely to happen again: · Ben had a habit of coming home drunk.· Life has a habit of surprising people.be prone to something to be more likely to have problems: · Some older computer systems were prone to go wrong.· The fitter you are, the less you are prone to injury.· plants that are prone to disease