oft

adverb

ˈȯft How to pronounce oft (audio)
Definition of oftnext
as in often
many times as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oft Harvey wasn’t particularly efficient last year, even less than the much older and oft-injured Dobbins. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 After nine games full of electric, nerve-wracking and oft-mystifying baseball, the Phillies finally lost 9-2 to the Mariners on Monday. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Despite Cardoso’s presence inside, the oft-unused reserve big found a way to be one of Golden State’s few reliable scorers in the first half. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 There’s no rule banning an heir from naming their child after a color or city, but using oft-traditional family names lends historical weight to a future ruler from the day they’re born. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oft
  1. often
  2. frequently
  3. constantly
  4. repeatedly
Adverb
  • And so nothing happened, which is a thing that often happens after a great deal of Official Fuss.
    — STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, the company’s machines really could only perform a limited number of tests and often produced unreliable results.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of often
Adverb
  • For people who frequently encounter login interruptions, a dedicated IP may provide a more consistent browsing experience without giving up VPN encryption.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The pair relied heavily on letter writing during John’s absences, and Abigail frequently used this medium to advocate for social change.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of frequently
Adverb
  • The drums are constantly switching, the gait galloping one way and then swerving back again, as if the music could go anywhere.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In order to be helpful, Muse constantly builds extensive dossiers of users and their desires, social relationships, and messaging behaviors, TIME’s Harry Booth reported this month.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of constantly
Adverb
  • But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly dismissed previous caution of AI tools and encouraged rapid autonomous innovation at the Pentagon.
    — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trump has repeatedly denied ordering the disruption of Starlink, despite Musk's public assertions that the order would have come from the White House.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of repeatedly

Browse Nearby Words

of sorts
oft
often
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oft. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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