occasionally
gb/ɔkˈeɪʒənəli/ us/ɔkˈeɪʒənəli/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
property
1
Sometimes, but not often
Happening sometimes, but not often or regularly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'occasionally' with 'occasionally for', which is incorrect. 'Occasionally' should directly modify a verb or clause without 'for'.
Synonyms
sometimes (More common in everyday speech; interchangeable in most contexts.)
|
periodically (Suggests more regular intervals than 'occasionally'.)
Antonyms
always (Indicates something happens all the time, which is the opposite of 'occasionally'.)
|
never (Indicates something does not happen at all.)
Collocations
occasionally visit
|occasionally see
|occasionally eat
|occasionally meet
|occasionally occur
Themes
daily life
|time
|frequency
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I occasionally go hiking on weekends.
- She occasionally visits her grandparents in the countryside.
- They occasionally eat out when they don't feel like cooking.
- He occasionally works from home when the weather is bad.
- The museum occasionally hosts special exhibitions.
Learner examples
- I occasionally eat pizza.
- She occasionally plays tennis.
- We occasionally go to the park.
- He occasionally calls his friends.
- It occasionally rains in summer.
Grammar
Dictionary form
occasionally
IPA
GB/ɔkˈeɪʒənəli/
US/ɔkˈeɪʒənəli/
Syllables & stress
oc - ca - sion - ally (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ca)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: occasionally
- Plural: occasionallies
Word family
Forms
occasionallies
noun
Core family
occasion
noun B1
occasional
adjective B1
Expressions
every once in a while
1/ˈɛvɹi wˈʌns ˈɪn ə wˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
Occasionally; from time to time
Happens sometimes, but not often.
Examples
- Every once in a while, we go out for ice cream after dinner.
- Every once in a while, I like to try a new recipe.
- You should back up your computer files every once in a while.
- He calls me every once in a while just to chat.
every so often
1/ˈɛvɹi sˈoʊ ˈɔftən/
fixed phrase
Occasionally, from time to time
Sometimes, not regularly or often.
Examples
- I visit my grandparents every so often.
- Every so often, I like to take a day off and relax.
- I check my email every so often during the day.
- Every so often, I like to take a day off.
- We see each other every so often at the market.
- Every so often, we take a short trip out of town.
from time to time
1/fɹˈʌm tˈaɪm tə tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Occasionally; at intervals
Happens sometimes, but not regularly.
Examples
- From time to time, I like to read old letters.
- We go camping from time to time.
- We meet for lunch from time to time.
- From time to time, she likes to visit the art gallery.
from time to time
2/fɹˈʌm tˈaɪm tə tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
occasionally
Sometimes, but not regularly.
Examples
- I like to go hiking from time to time.
- From time to time, we eat out instead of cooking.