occasionally
/ə'keiʤnəli/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adverb: - At infrequent or irregular intervals; now and then; from time to time. It describes something that happens, but not very often and not according to a fixed schedule.
Usage
- Position in a Sentence: "Occasionally" is most commonly placed before the main verb it modifies. It can also be placed at the beginning or end of a clause for emphasis or stylistic variation.
- Example (before verb): She occasionally visits her grandparents.
- Example (beginning of clause): Occasionally, we go out for a fancy dinner.
- Example (end of clause): He likes to go hiking occasionally.
- Function: It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the frequency of an action or state, falling between "sometimes" and "rarely" on the frequency scale.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "Only occasionally": This phrase emphasizes the rarity of the event.
- Example: Large predators are only occasionally seen in this region.
- "Very occasionally": An intensifier used to stress that something happens extremely seldom.
- Example: Very occasionally, a student will finish the exam early.
Variants and Related Words
- Occasional (adjective): Happening or appearing from time to time; not regular or frequent.
- Example: He is an occasional contributor to the magazine.
- Occasion (noun): A particular time or instance of an event.
- Example: I've met him on several occasions.
Synonyms
- Sometimes: At some times, but not always or often. (Similar frequency, but "sometimes" might imply slightly more regularity than "occasionally").
- Now and then / Now and again: At irregular intervals; occasionally.
- From time to time: Occasionally; not regularly.
- Once in a while: Occasionally; not often.
Antonyms
- Frequently / Often: Happening many times or at short intervals.
- Constantly / Continuously: Without interruption; always.
- Never: Not at any time.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- On occasion: This is a more formal phrase synonymous with "occasionally."
- Example: He still writes poetry on occasion.
- Every so often: Another informal phrase meaning occasionally.
- Example: Every so often, she checks her old email account.
Adverb
- now and then or here and there
- he was arrogant and occasionally callous
- open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees
- they visit New York on occasion
- now and again she would take her favorite book from the shelf and read to us
- as we drove along, the beautiful scenery now and then attracted his attention