INDEX:
1. sometimes
2. words for describing something that happens sometimes but not often
RELATED WORDS
at some time in the future : ↑ FUTURE (2)
see also
↑ USUALLY
↑ ALWAYS
↑ OFTEN
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1. sometimes
▷ sometimes /ˈsʌmtaɪmz/ [adverb]
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.
▷ occasionally /əˈkeɪʒ ə n ə li/ [adverb]
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.
▷ every so often /ˌevri səʊ ˈɒf ə nǁ-ˈɔːf ə n/ [adverb]
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.
▷ once in a while /ˌwʌns ɪn ə ˈwaɪl/ [adverb]
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.
▷ at times /ət ˈtaɪmz/ [adverb]
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.
▷ now and again/now and then /ˌnaʊ ənd əˈgen, ˌnaʊ ən ˈðen/ [adverb]
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.
▷ from time to time /frəm ˌtaɪm tə ˈtaɪm/ [adverb]
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.
▷ off and on/on and off /ˌɒf ənd ˈɒn, ˌɒn ənd ˈɒf/ [adverb] 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.
2. words for describing something that happens sometimes but not often
▷ occasional /əˈkeɪʒ ə nəl/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ The prisoners are allowed occasional visits from their relatives.
the occasional/an occasional
▪ The street was silent except for the occasional burst of laughter from one of the workmen.
▪ I didn’t know Terry very well, but we went out for an occasional drink together.
▷ the odd /ði ˈɒdǁ-ˈɑːd/ [adjective phrase only before noun]
the odd drink/game/occasion etc
especially spoken
a few drinks, games etc at various times, but not often and not regularly :
▪ Jim and I have the odd game of cards together.
▪ We get the odd complaint from customers, but mostly they’re very satisfied.
▷ intermittent /ˌɪntəʳˈmɪt ə nt◂/ [adjective usually before noun]
happening for short irregular periods, often with long periods in between, not continuously :
▪ She is the sort of person who works with intense but intermittent effort.
▪ The afternoon will be warm but unsettled, with intermittent light rain.
▷ periodic /ˌpɪ ə riˈɒdɪk◂ǁ-ˈɑːd-/ [adjective only before noun]
happening sometimes, usually every few months, years etc :
▪ She suffered periodic bouts of depression.
▪ Periodic failures of the olive crop kept the country in constant debt.
▪ The budget is subject to periodic review.
periodically [adverb]
▪ Children’s homes are periodically inspected by government inspectors.
▷ casual /ˈkæʒuəl/ [adjective]
casual user/visitor etc
someone who does not often use something, visit somewhere etc :
▪ Casual users of the library may not realize that they now need a computerized ticket.
▪ Charging an entry fee for museums will not affect the casual visitor very much.