imtoken钱包安卓下载链接|frequent
Frequent Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Frequent Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Est. 1828
Dictionary
Definition
verb
adjective
verb
2
verb
adjective
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frequent
1 of 2
verb
fre·quent
frē-ˈkwent
ˈfrē-kwənt
frequented; frequenting; frequents
Synonyms of frequent
transitive verb
1
: to associate with, be in, or resort to often or habitually
a bar frequented by sports fans a restaurant frequented by local politicians
2
archaic
: to read systematically or habitually
frequentation
ˌfrē-ˌkwen-ˈtā-shən
-kwən-
noun
frequenter
noun
frequent
2 of 2
adjective
fre·quent
ˈfrē-kwənt
1
a
: common, usual
a frequent practice among these people
b
: happening at short intervals : often repeated or occurring
a bus making frequent stops
2
obsolete
: full, thronged
3
: acting or returning regularly or often
a frequent visitor a frequent customer
4
archaic
: intimate, familiar
frequentness
noun
Synonyms
Verb
affect
habituate
hang (at)
haunt
resort (to)
visit
Adjective
constant
habitual
periodic
periodical
regular
repeated
steady
See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Examples of frequent in a Sentence
Verb
He began frequenting cheap bars.
a neighborhood frequented by tourists
a restaurant frequented by local politicians
Adjective
We made frequent trips to town.
This bus makes frequent stops.
She was a frequent visitor to the museum.
He is one of our most frequent customers.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebVerb
There are other popular otter hangouts nearby, including South T Pier, along the Harbor Walk, and next to Target Rock, a place frequented by divers.
—Jerry Rice, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Many East Bay and South Bay customers may frequent this Gateway Plaza location to take advantage of the ambitious new menu: This is the first Ike’s to offer all halal options.
—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
The main trails leading to Burney Falls, the picturesque waterfall in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park often frequented by hikers, will be closed as part of an $835,000 project throughout the summer and into the fall, California State Parks announced Friday.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 16 Feb. 2024
One of the store managers at a location that Johnson frequented recognized him and informed the police.
—USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2024
Despite his relative wealth, the elder James Mohammad enjoyed holding court in these types of restaurants, which served the starchy Yoruba dishes of his youth, as opposed to the Euro-chic restaurants in Lagos that his nephew frequented.
—Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024
In 1980, Princess Grace was reported to have frequented the property with her daughter, Princess Caroline.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2024
It was meant to be short-lived, a two-year revival (the building was going to be bulldozed in 2021) of the iconic restaurant that first opened in 1962 and was frequented by Rat Pack–era stars.
—Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024
Students would frequent the café, hoping to catch the eye of a lovely young lady.
—Yolanda Evans, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Furthermore, frequent energy drink consumers reported more sleep disturbances, such as waking up throughout the night, than those who didn’t drink as much.
—Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 7 Mar. 2024
Researchers sleep in their labs to protect their work during frequent blackouts.
—Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
In chronic diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis B, immune cells can become fatigued from frequent exposure to the pathogen and lose the ability to combat it effectively, Schober said.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
The war has been a frequent subject of Hanks’ work, from Saving Private Ryan to his recent Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
Murals, steel sculptures, and stained glass bring color to a walkable downtown that’s popular for shopping, dining, and frequent street festivals.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Porter, 50, was asked about Schiff’s frequent invocation of the late senator, who quite likely would have preferred the more moderate, less confrontational Schiff as her successor.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
For over 90 years, the frequent sounds and sights of airplanes taking off and landing at the airport were part of everyday life in Blue Ash.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2024
Taking frequent breaks, hydrating yourself, bundling up with appropriate clothes, pushing rather than lifting snow and engaging in warm-up exercises prior to shoveling can all help mitigate the risks associated with snow shoveling.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frequent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English, ample, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective
1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of frequent was
in the 15th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing frequent
frequent-flier
frequent-flyer
Dictionary Entries Near frequent
frequency shift
frequent
frequentative
See More Nearby Entries
Cite this Entry
Style
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
“Frequent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frequent. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
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Kids Definition
frequent
1 of 2
adjective
fre·quent
ˈfrē-kwənt
1
: happening often
made frequent trips to town
2
: regular entry 1 sense 3b, habitual
a frequent visitor to the museum
frequently
adverb
frequentness
noun
frequent
2 of 2
verb
fre·quent
frē-ˈkwent
ˈfrē-kwənt
: to visit, associate with, or go to often
frequents the library
frequenter
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on frequent
Nglish: Translation of frequent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of frequent for Arabic Speakers
Last Updated:
9 Mar 2024
- Updated example sentences
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FREQUENT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
FREQUENT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
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English (UK)
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English
Meaning of frequent in English
frequentadjective uk
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/ˈfriː.kwənt/ us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfriː.kwənt/
Add to word list
Add to word list
B1 happening often: a frequent visitor to the US A frequent criticism of the proposal has been its high cost. The most frequent cause of death is heart disease. The attacks were increasingly frequent and serious. Opposite
infrequent
More examplesFewer examplesThere are frequent sailings from Dover.The two countries have had frequent border disputes.All hi-tech weaponry demands frequent servicing to ensure accuracy.Car crashes are so frequent that they don't rate a mention in the newspaper unless a lot of people are killed.He is a frequent flyer.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Frequency & regularity - general words
(as) regular as clockwork idiom
-ly
clockwork
endemically
erratic
erratically
fitful
irregular
irregularly
like clockwork idiom
many
many a time idiom
on-off
periodic
periodically
prevalence
regularity
religiously
unsynchronized
would
See more results »
frequentverb [ T ]
formal uk
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/frɪˈkwent/ us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/friːˈkwent/
to be in or visit a particular place often: a bar frequented by criminals
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Visiting
attraction
beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
been
call (in) on someone
call by
exchange
happen along/by (somewhere)
haunt
have access to someone/something
homestay
house-to-house
pay
pop
regular
round
stay
stomping ground
stop by (somewhere)
stop in
stop off somewhere
See more results »
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
frequent | American Dictionary
frequentadjective us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfri·kwənt/
Add to word list
Add to word list
happening often; common: She makes frequent trips home to Beijing.
frequently adverb us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfri·kwənt·li/
I frequently disagree with him. I moved much more frequently than I wanted to.
frequentverb [ T ] us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/friˈkwent, ˈfri·kwənt/
to often be in or often visit a particular place: They go to clubs frequented by artists.
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
frequent | Business English
frequentadjective uk
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfriːkwənt/ us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
Add to word list
Add to word list
happening or doing something often: A frequent criticism of the proposal has been its high cost. Thomas is a frequent presenter at trade conventions.
frequently adverb
He meets with his manager less frequently than he would like.
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of frequent
frequent
His 2-year-old brother, however, regularly frequented the barn.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The areas selected for sampling were those most frequented by the local residents.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
During the hot summer of 2001 bathing facilities and lakes were heavily frequented.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Thus, 94 % of rural men, 80 % of urban married men and 63 % of urban bachelors frequented bars.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The rat burrows were situated adjacent to a heavily frequented road which appears to be the main source of pollution.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Ponds and lakes that are frequented by birds often have an enhanced productivity, based on nutrients from the birds droppings and decaying feathers.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Species that frequented male inflorescences frequented females as well.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
They were all frequented by dogs, cats and children.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Nationalists believed that by frequenting the graves of these local heroes and heroines, they would receive new energy and courage to fight colonialism.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Our cities, our health and entertainment resorts, will be frequented by crowds of foreigners curious how a country can live under the siege of sanctions.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Further, such material can not be used in places frequented by crowds, while its transient activity means that material which takes time immediately.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Several geophilous species frequented the cowpea and millet fields.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
He frequents the coffee houses near the theatres, reads a few books, and then begins to pontificate.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
1 '[...] if it is not frequented by visitors, if it has an air of lonesomeness, a spacious palace often becomes a discredit to its owner'.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Before even beginning their careers, the new students were living the fashionable life, the boys frequenting fencing halls, the girls reading magazines about aristocratic marriages.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
See all examples of frequent
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of frequent?
B1
Translations of frequent
in Chinese (Traditional)
頻繁發生的, 常見的, 常去,常到…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
频繁发生的, 常见的, 常去,常到…
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in Spanish
frecuente, habitual, frecuente [masculine-feminine]…
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in Portuguese
frequente…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
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अनेकदा घडत असते.…
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頻繁な, 頻繁(ひんぱん)に起(お)こる…
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sık sık, sık görülen/olan, alışılmış…
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fréquent/-ente, fréquent, fréquenter…
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freqüent, assidu…
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frequent, regelmatig bezoeken…
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அடிக்கடி நடக்கிறது / நடக்கக்கூடிய…
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लगातार होने वाला, बार-बार, निरंतर…
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વારંવાર બનતું…
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hyppig, jævnlig, besøge hyppigt…
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ofta förekommande, frekventera…
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sering, sering mengunjungi…
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häufig, oft aufsuchen…
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hyppig, stadig, vanlig…
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اکثر اوقات, بار بار, تواتر کے ساتھ…
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частий, часто відвідувати…
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частый, часто посещать…
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తరచుగా జరిగేది…
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مُتَكَرِّر…
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ঘন ঘন…
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častý, často navštěvovat…
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sering, sering mengunjungi…
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ซึ่งเป็นประจำ, ไปเป็นประจำ…
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thường xuyên, hay xảy ra, hay lui tới hoặc thăm một nơi nào đó…
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częsty, odwiedzać, bywać w…
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빈번한…
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frequente, assiduo, frequentare…
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frequent
frequent flier
frequent flyer
frequented
frequenting
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Contents
English
AdjectiveVerb
American
Adjective
frequent
Adverb
frequently
Verb
Business
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frequent
Adverb
frequently
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English (US)
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English
Meaning of frequent in English
frequentadjective us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfriː.kwənt/ uk
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfriː.kwənt/
Add to word list
Add to word list
B1 happening often: a frequent visitor to the U.S. A frequent criticism of the proposal has been its high cost. The most frequent cause of death is heart disease. The attacks were increasingly frequent and serious. Opposite
infrequent
More examplesFewer examplesThere are frequent sailings from Dover.The two countries have had frequent border disputes.All hi-tech weaponry demands frequent servicing to ensure accuracy.Car crashes are so frequent that they don't rate a mention in the newspaper unless a lot of people are killed.He is a frequent flyer.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Frequency & regularity - general words
(as) regular as clockwork idiom
-ly
clockwork
endemically
erratic
erratically
fitful
irregular
irregularly
like clockwork idiom
many
many a time idiom
on-off
periodic
periodically
prevalence
regularity
religiously
unsynchronized
would
See more results »
frequentverb [ T ]
formal us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/friːˈkwent/ uk
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/frɪˈkwent/
to be in or visit a particular place often: a bar frequented by criminals
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Visiting
attraction
beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
been
call (in) on someone
call by
drop
exchange
hangout
happen
happen along/by (somewhere)
haunt
have access to someone/something
on your rounds idiom
regular
round
sojourn
state visit
stay
stomping ground
stop by (somewhere)
See more results »
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
frequent | Intermediate English
frequentadjective us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfri·kwənt/
Add to word list
Add to word list
happening often; common: She makes frequent trips home to Beijing.
frequently adverb us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfri·kwənt·li/
I frequently disagree with him. I moved much more frequently than I wanted to.
frequentverb [ T ] us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/friˈkwent, ˈfri·kwənt/
to often be in or often visit a particular place: They go to clubs frequented by artists.
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
frequent | Business English
frequentadjective uk
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/ˈfriːkwənt/ us
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
Add to word list
Add to word list
happening or doing something often: A frequent criticism of the proposal has been its high cost. Thomas is a frequent presenter at trade conventions.
frequently adverb
He meets with his manager less frequently than he would like.
(Definition of frequent from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of frequent
frequent
The government requires more frequent inspections as an airplane or certain parts get older.
From San Francisco Chronicle
Add to that their frequent attacks on other birds, and they're simply not good neighbors.
From USA TODAY
Those instances aren't all that common, but they're a bit more frequent than last season.
From USA TODAY
Among men, well-educated prisoners were more likely to be frequent masturbators.
From Slate Magazine
Villagers turned en masse to mining over the past two years, spurred on by more frequent visits from gold-buying middlemen.
From Bloomberg
He rushed to the site, which he described as a beer parlor frequented by locals.
From CNN
Unfortunately, the annual survey is not frequent enough.
From Heritage.org
He says this is a frequent topic of discussion among his colleagues.
From CNN
When a child has frequent or unusual infections, doctors may suspect an immunodeficiency.
From CNN
Weight was a frequent topic with my mom and grandma.
From Huffington Post
And the military does have special challenges with frequent moves that always end up costing money.
From Washington Post
She wouldn't eat and had frequent crying spells.
From Huffington Post
Even if you frequent the place, always ask your server questions about how the food is prepared.
From Plain Dealer
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of frequent?
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Translations of frequent
in Chinese (Traditional)
頻繁發生的, 常見的, 常去,常到…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
频繁发生的, 常见的, 常去,常到…
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in Spanish
frecuente, habitual, frecuente [masculine-feminine]…
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in Portuguese
frequente…
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अनेकदा घडत असते.…
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頻繁な, 頻繁(ひんぱん)に起(お)こる…
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sık sık, sık görülen/olan, alışılmış…
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fréquent/-ente, fréquent, fréquenter…
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freqüent, assidu…
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frequent, regelmatig bezoeken…
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அடிக்கடி நடக்கிறது / நடக்கக்கூடிய…
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लगातार होने वाला, बार-बार, निरंतर…
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વારંવાર બનતું…
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hyppig, jævnlig, besøge hyppigt…
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ofta förekommande, frekventera…
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sering, sering mengunjungi…
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häufig, oft aufsuchen…
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hyppig, stadig, vanlig…
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اکثر اوقات, بار بار, تواتر کے ساتھ…
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частий, часто відвідувати…
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частый, часто посещать…
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తరచుగా జరిగేది…
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مُتَكَرِّر…
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ঘন ঘন…
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častý, často navštěvovat…
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sering, sering mengunjungi…
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ซึ่งเป็นประจำ, ไปเป็นประจำ…
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thường xuyên, hay xảy ra, hay lui tới hoặc thăm một nơi nào đó…
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częsty, odwiedzać, bywać w…
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빈번한…
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frequente, assiduo, frequentare…
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Contents
English
AdjectiveVerb
Intermediate
Adjective
frequent
Adverb
frequently
Verb
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frequent
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frequently
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FREQUENT Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
FREQUENT Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipsfrequent[ adjective free-kwuhnt; verb fri-kwent, free-kwuhnt ]show ipaSee synonyms for: frequentfrequentedfrequentingfrequenter on Thesaurus.comadjectivehappening or occurring at short intervals: to make frequent trips to Tokyo.constant, habitual, or regular: a frequent guest.located at short distances apart: frequent towns along the shore.See moreverb (used with object)to visit often; go often to; be often in: to frequent the art galleries.Origin of frequent1First recorded in 1400–50; (for the adjective) late Middle English: “ample, profuse,” from Latin frequent-, stem of frequēns “crowded, full, repeated”; verb derivative of the adjectiveOther words from frequentfre·quent·a·ble, adjectivefre·quent·er, nounfre·quent·ness, nounnon·fre·quent, adjectivenon·fre·quent·ly, adverbo·ver·fre·quent, adjectiveo·ver·fre·quent·ly, adverbun·fre·quent, adjectiveun·fre·quent·ly, adverbun·fre·quent·a·ble, adjectivewell-fre·quent·ed, adjectiveWords Nearby frequentfrequency distributionfrequency-division multiplexfrequency modulationfrequency polygonfrequency responsefrequentfrequentationfrequentativefrequent flierfrequentlyfrèreDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use frequent in a sentenceDue to climate change, the wetland will experience more frequent periods of extended drought in the future, according to a 2020 study published in PLOS One.What wildfires in Brazil, Siberia, and the US West have in common | Lili Pike | September 17, 2020 | VoxThe most frequent use of this strategy, though, has to do with unrest at racial-justice protests.Trump’s increasingly overt effort to pretend Biden is actually president | Aaron Blake | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostThe ENV135B from Nespresso is an ideal choice for coffee drinkers and hard workers who throw back multiple cups a day and don’t want to deal with frequent tank refilling.The best quick-brew coffee machines | PopSci Commerce Team | September 10, 2020 | Popular-ScienceAfter finding that through a friend or family member was the most frequent response, Lalo wanted to incentivize customers to give recommendations more frequently.After record sales, DTC startups are focusing on retention | Anna Hensel | September 4, 2020 | DigidayIn all cases, maintaining an edge’s sharpness with frequent touch-ups will be easier than trying to restore a dull edge.Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Knife | Wes Siler | September 3, 2020 | Outside OnlineThink of it as a frequent buyer program for personal karma, or a spiritual band-aid.The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma | Brendon Hong | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a major source for steel during World War II, Sheffield was a frequent target of bombing raids.The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker | Ted Gioia | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI inherited the Arnold Family Thunder ThighsTM, which was a source of frequent teasing and distress for me as a child.You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder | Carrie Arnold | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt shows what the experience of any frequent flyer already demonstrates.Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries | Clive Irving | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe married an architect and their children, Dialta as well as another daughter and two sons, were frequent guests at La Pietra.In Tussle Over Will, Mistress’s Family Takes a Bite Out of NYU | Anthony Haden-Guest | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDiacetic acid occurs in the same conditions as acetone, but is less frequent and has more serious significance.A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddIn the outskirts of the city, skirmishes between Spanish troops and rebels were of frequent occurrence.The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThis little book contains many of the legal principles that are in most frequent use, as readers will learn who carefully read it.Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesThey require frequent cleaning with a long wire and a bit of tow, and in some large towns there are professional pipe-cleaners.Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.It would not have been safe to use stone above the lower floor on account of the frequent earthquakes.Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton WadeSee More ExamplesBritish Dictionary definitions for frequentfrequentadjective(ˈfriːkwənt)recurring at short intervalsconstant or habitualverb(frɪˈkwɛnt)(tr) to visit repeatedly or habituallyOrigin of frequent1C16: from Latin frequēns numerous; perhaps related to Latin farcīre to stuffDerived forms of frequentfrequentable, adjectivefrequenter, nounfrequently, adverbfrequentness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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frequent adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
frequent adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
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Definition of frequent adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
frequent adjective OPAL W /ˈfriːkwənt/ /ˈfriːkwənt/
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happening or doing something oftenHe is a frequent visitor to this country.Her calls became less frequent.There is a frequent bus service into the centre of town.How frequent is this word (= how often does it occur in the language)? opposite infrequentExtra ExamplesThe attacks have become increasingly frequent.He was a frequent guest at the palace.Power failures are frequent occurrences in the city.The case was reviewed at frequent intervals.The new job involved frequent absences from home.Topics Timeb2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbsbeseembecome…adverbextremelyfairlyvery…prepositionamonginphrasesat frequent intervalsSee full entryWord Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘profuse, ample’): from French, or from Latin frequens, frequent- ‘crowded, frequent’, of unknown ultimate origin.
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See frequent in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee frequent in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
frequent
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frequent verb
frequent flyer noun
frequent flyers
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frenzy noun
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frequent - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
frequent - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
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UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations adjective: /ˈfriːkwənt/, verb: /frɪˈkwɛnt/US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/adj. ˈfrikwənt; v. frɪˈkwɛnt, ˈfrikwənt/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(adj. frē′kwənt; v. fri kwent′, frē′kwənt)
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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024fre•quent /adj. ˈfrikwənt; v. frɪˈkwɛnt, ˈfrikwənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
happening at short intervals:made frequent trips to Japan.
habitual or regular:a frequent guest at our house.
v. [~ + object] to visit often:frequented their neighborhood restaurant.
fre•quent•er, n. [countable]
fre•quent•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024fre•quent
(adj. frē′kwənt;v. fri kwent′, frē′kwənt),USA pronunciation adj.
happening or occurring at short intervals:to make frequent trips to Tokyo.
constant, habitual, or regular:a frequent guest.
located at short distances apart:frequent towns along the shore.
v.t. to visit often; go often to; be often in:to frequent the art galleries.
Latin frequentāre, derivative of frequēns Middle French fréquenter) Latin frequent- (stem of frequēns) crowded; (verb, verbal) ( late Middle English: ample, profuse 1400–50
fre•quent′a•ble, adj.
fre•quent′er, n.
fre′quent•ness, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
frequent adj /ˈfriːkwənt/ recurring at short intervals constant or habitual vb /frɪˈkwɛnt/(transitive) to visit repeatedly or habituallyEtymology: 16th Century: from Latin frequēns numerous; perhaps related to Latin farcīre to stufffreˈquenter n ˈfrequently adv
'frequent' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Anglic
- Benioff zone
- Brocken bow
- Callanetics
- Fry
- Grand Banks
- Hekla
- Louis VII
- Ryukyu Islands
- Saint Petersburg
- absenteeism
- acrobat
- again
- agammaglobulinemia
- aggravate
- airbus
- analytic
- archive
- arrant
- beau
- bezique
- blues
- bonkbuster
- boyfriend
- bulimia
- by-form
- cabaret
- cacophony
- café society
- cavitation
- comment
- common
- continual
- continually
- conversant
- cough
- covert
- crawl
- crime
- crybaby
- dealing
- diarrhoea
- differential association
- dislocate
- don't
- drink
- enormity
- enthuse
- errata
- euphuism
In Lists: PET Vocabulary List - F, more...Synonyms: habitual, regular, constant, recurrent, repeated, more...Collocations: [use, spend] your frequent flyer miles, the bar is frequented by [businessmen, locals, sports fans], earn frequent flyer miles, more...
Forum discussions with the word(s) "frequent" in the title:[Constant, regular, frequent] arguing with your spouse can lead to various health problems.
a frequent bus taker
a frequent stayer of the hotel
a moody person vs. someone who has frequent mood swings
a sense of dreary [consecration] had guarded it from frequent intrusion.
an unusual tune not spoiled by frequent playing
as our visits grew more frequent
Can / Might be frequent
Disasters are
escape frequent disasters
even though she was
ever more... frequent (crisis periods)
frequent
frequent
Frequent - mass - massive
frequent / not infrequent
frequent applications
frequent coverage
frequent dips
Frequent each other
Frequent flyers are bored with flying,
frequent mistakes
frequent of late...frequent than the geranium blooms
frequent place
Frequent practice/practising of exam questions
frequent shorts
frequent student challenges ?
frequent usage "of" in a sentence
Frequent usage of Past Perfect in books
frequent-flier angle
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frequent verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
frequent verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
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Definition of frequent verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
frequent verb /friˈkwent/ /friˈkwent/(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they frequent /friˈkwent/ /friˈkwent/ he / she / it frequents /friˈkwents/ /friˈkwents/ past simple frequented /friˈkwentɪd/ /friˈkwentɪd/ past participle frequented /friˈkwentɪd/ /friˈkwentɪd/ -ing form frequenting /friˈkwentɪŋ/ /friˈkwentɪŋ/
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frequent something to visit a particular place oftenWe met in a local bar much frequented by students.less frequented roadsVarious native and migratory birds frequent this area.Oxford Collocations DictionaryFrequent is used with these nouns as the subject: touristFrequent is used with these nouns as the object: barcaferestaurant…See full entryWord Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘profuse, ample’): from French, or from Latin frequens, frequent- ‘crowded, frequent’, of unknown ultimate origin.
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See frequent in the Oxford Advanced American DictionaryCheck pronunciation:
frequent
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All matches
frequent adjective
frequent flyer noun
frequent flyers
frequent flier
Nearby words
frequency noun
frequent adjective
frequent verb
frequentative adjective
frequent flyer noun
boost
verb
From the Topic
Change, cause and effect
B2
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frequent, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
frequent, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
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First published 1898; not yet revised (details)More entries for "frequent"Nearby entriesBrowse entryCite
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DictionaryHistorical ThesaurusFactsheetEtymologyExpandMeaning & usePronunciationFrequencyExpandCompounds & derived wordsQuotationsShow all quotationsIn other dictionariesfrēquent, adj. in Middle English Dictionary
Factsheet
What does the word frequent mean? There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word frequent, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.frequent has developed meanings and uses in subjects including pathology (early 1600s) publishing (early 1600s) Entry status OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised. See meaning & use How common is the word frequent? About 30occurrences per million words in modern written English 175073176070177081178085179072180072181064182063183061184057185057186053187052188053189048190049191047192040193038194039195037196036197036198033199029200027201027 See frequency How is the word frequent pronounced? British English /ˈfriːkw(ə)nt/
FREE-kwuhntU.S. English /ˈfrikwənt/
FREE-kwuhnt See pronunciation Where does the word frequent come from? Earliest known usemid 1500sThe earliest known use of the word frequent is in the mid 1500s.OED's earliest evidence for frequent is from 1531, in the writing of Thomas Elyot, humanist and diplomat.frequent is a borrowing from Latin.Etymons: Latin frequent-em. See etymologyNearby entriesfrequency distortion, n.1932–frequency distribution, n.1895–frequency diversity, n.1931–frequency illusion, n.2005–frequency modulation, n.1922–frequency polygon, n.1897–frequency response, n.1926–frequency shift, n.1944–frequency spectrum, n.1955–frequent, n.1631–35frequent, adj. & adv.1531–frequent, v.1477–frequentable, adj.a1586–frequentage, n.1814–frequentance, n.1593frequentation, n.?1520–frequentative, adj. & n.1530–frequented, adj.1578–frequenter, n.1613–frequent flyer, n.1980–frequentist, n.1949–Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
SummaryA borrowing from Latin.Etymon: Latin frequent-em.< Latin frequent-em crowded, frequent; cognate with farcīre to stuff (see farce v.1).Show lessCite
Meaning & use
ContentsAdjectiveExpand1.† Of persons, an assembly, etc.: Assembled in great numbers…1.a.Of persons, an assembly, etc.: Assembled in great numbers…1.b.† Of a place: Filled, full, crowded (with persons, rarely…2.Found at short distances apart; numerous, abundant…Expand3.Commonly used or practised, well known, common, usual. Now…3.a.Commonly used or practised, well known, common, usual. Now…3.b.† Of a report, etc.: Widely current. Of a book: Widely…4.Happening or occurring at short intervals; often recurring…5.Addicted to, wont to indulge in (a practice, course of…Expand6.That is often at or in (a place). Obsolete.6.a.† That is often at or in (a place). Obsolete.6.b.(With an agent-noun): That does a thing often; constant…6.c.† That is often in company with (a person); familiar…AdverbFrequently, often. (nonstandard in later use.)QuotationsShow all quotationsIn other dictionariesfrēquent, adj. in Middle English Dictionaryadjective1.† 1.a.1590–1746 Of persons, an assembly, etc.: Assembled in great numbers, crowded, full. Often in full and frequent. Obsolete.1590There was generally made throughout the whole Realme a most frequent assemblie of all sorts of people. translation of P. Ubaldini, Disc. Spanishe inuading Eng. 1588 261606He..in a ful and frequent assemblie..besought the faithfull helpe and assistance of his soldiers. P. Holland, translation of Suetonius, Historie of Twelve Caesars 14?1611As when of frequent bees Swarms rise out of a hollow rock. G. Chapman, translation of Homer, Iliads ii. 711638To-morrow, in Stirling, is expected a frequent Counsell. R. Baillie, Letters & Journals (1841) vol. I. 541677'Tis fit in frequent Senate we confer. J. Dryden, State of Innocence i. i. 31726Apart they sate, And full and frequent, form'd a dire debate. W. Broome in A. Pope et al., translation of Homer, Odyssey vol. IV. xvi. 3771746One hundred and thirty-nine Lords were present, and made a noble sight on their benches frequent and full! H. Walpole, Letters to Horace Mann (1857) vol. II. 38CiteHistorical thesaurusthe world space place presence [adjectives] present at a proceeding well-attended frequent1590–1746 Of persons, an assembly, etc.: Assembled in great numbers, crowded, full. Often in full and frequent. Obsolete.well-attended1727– Attended by a large number of people; having high attendance.View in Historical Thesaurus1.b.c1540–1816 † Of a place: Filled, full, crowded (with persons, rarely with things). Also, much resorted to, frequented. Obsolete.c1540The erd is now mair frequent in pepyl, than it was. J. Bellenden in translation of H. Boece, Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. sig. Avjv1555Master Scory and certain other..have an English Church there, but not very frequent. E. Grindal, Remains (1843) (modernized text) 2391603When he was to play upon his harpe, for a prize in some frequent Theater. P. Holland, translation of Plutarch, Morals 3421604Frequent,..much haunted, or goe too. R. Cawdrey, Table Alphabeticall1673The town..seemed frequent and full of people. J. Ray, Observations Journey Low-countries 11816Halls, Frequent with crystal column, and clear shrines Of pearl. P. B. Shelley, Alastor 7CiteHistorical thesaurussociety inhabiting and dwelling inhabited place dwelling place or abode place of resort [adjectives] (much) frequented frequentc1540–1816 Of a place: Filled, full, crowded (with persons, rarely with things). Also, much resorted to, frequented. Obsolete.haunted1576– Frequented by many people, much resorted to.well-frequented1578– Of a place: much visited, patronized, or used.frequented1601– Of a place: Often resorted to.View in Historical Thesaurusthe world space place presence fact of taking up space [adjectives] full crowded thickOld English– Of the individual things collectively: Existing or occurring in large numbers in a relatively small space, or at short intervals; densely arranged…replete?a1475– Filled or crowded with people or animals.frequentc1540–1816 Of a place: Filled, full, crowded (with persons, rarely with things). Also, much resorted to, frequented. Obsolete.throng1557– Of a place: crowded or packed with people or things; fully attended or frequented.thicky1587–1868 Of a thick nature; inclined to be thick.thronged1605– Of a place: crowded or packed with people or things; fully attended or frequented. Cf. throng, adj. A.4.celebrious1611–1721 Of worship, a rite, etc.: solemn, ceremonial. Of a festival, feast day, etc.: celebratory, festive. Obsolete.crowded1612– Filled with or thronged by a crowd.stiff1683– Tight, closely packed. Now hyperbolically in colloquial use: Densely crowded (with). Also figurative.swarming1810– Filled with a swarm or multitude; densely crowded; thronged; very populous.multitudinous1820–73 poetic. Thronged or crowded with something. Obsolete.throngful1830–74 Filled with a throng of people or things; crowded.dense1842– Having its constituent particles closely compacted together; thick, compact. Crowded, ‘thick’ (with). rare.swarmy1858– Swarming, thronged.teeminga1873– Swarming, thronging; abundantly crowded.swarmed1885– Of a place: crowded, thronged. Of people: assembled in a crowd, congregated, massed.mobbed1898– Crowded; packed with people; filled to capacity. Also with modifying word.View in Historical Thesaurus2.1605– Found at short distances apart; numerous, abundant. Somewhat archaic.1605[Britaine is]..beautified with many populous Cities..frequent Hospitals [etc.]. W. Camden, Remaines i. 21607There is no beast so frequent as these in all Cilicia. E. Topsell, Historie of Foure-footed Beastes 4401657Pirats and Pickaronoes: which are very frequent upon the Coasts of Spaine. R. Ligon, True History Barbados 21718Through frequent Cracks the steaming Sulphur broke. J. Addison, Remarks on Italy (ed. 2) 1891722The Plant..is very frequent in most of the Southern Parts of this Country. D. Coxe, Description Carolana 861816Walls..flanked and crowned by frequent square towers. M. Keating, Travels (1817) vol. I. 2171860It was a wise and lovely sentiment, that set up the frequent shrine and cross along the roadside. N. Hawthorne, Marble Faun vol. II. vii. 89CiteHistorical thesaurusarchaicthe world space relative position arrangement or fact of being arranged state of being scattered or dispersed [adjectives] at short intervals apart frequent1605– Found at short distances apart; numerous, abundant. Somewhat archaic.View in Historical Thesaurus3.a.1531– Commonly used or practised, well known, common, usual. Now rare. †frequent to: commonly occurring in.1531Howe frequent & familiar a thynge with euery astate & degre throughout Christendome is this reuerent othe. T. Elyot, Boke named Gouernour iii. vii. sig. av1635I have not..used any one word not frequent, and familiar. A. Stafford, Femall Glory 491673In the epistles Dedicatory..'tis frequent To belie men with praise. Siege in W. Davenant, Works i. 65/21706There is nothing more frequent among us, than..Pindarique Odes. W. Congreve, Pindarique Ode on Her Majesty's Arms Disc. sig. Aj1765Such enamelled plates being frequent to old watches instead of crystals. H. Walpole, Vertue's Anecdotes of Painting (ed. 2) vol. II. iii. 1531816Such we may rely on it was a picture, and a correct one, of frequent life. M. Keating, Travels (1817) vol. I. 1391869It is frequent to impute to Radicals the wish to ‘Americanize our institutions’. Times 1 January 4CiteHistorical thesaurusthe world action or operation behaviour customary or habitual mode of behaviour [adjectives] usual or customary wonesomec1200 Customary, usual.wonec1275–1338 Customary, usual. rare.customable1381–1730 Established by or in accordance with custom; usual, customary. Obsolete.customeda1382– Established by or in accordance with custom; customary, habitual, usual; = accustomed, adj. 1a. Now archaic and rare.useda1382–1655 Customarily employed, experienced, or encountered; habitual, usual. Obsolete.wonta1382–1596 = wonted, adj. II Obsolete.wonted1408– Accustomed, customary, usual. Now archaic or U.S.accustomed1429– Customary, habitual, usual.vulgar?a1439– That is in general, regular, or widespread use; that is part of customary or usual practice; prevalent.usualc1444– Ordinarily used; constantly or customarily employed; in common use; ordinary, customary.famosec1449–1727 = famous, adj.customalc1450 Customary, usual, habitual. Obsolete. rare.accustomablec1475–1851 Habitual, usual, customary.accustomatea1513–1631 Accustomed, customary, usual.frequent1531– Commonly used or practised, well known, common, usual. Now rare. †frequent to: commonly occurring in.accustomary1541– Usual, customary.customary1574– In accordance with the usual practice or behaviour of a person or thing; habitual, typical, usual. Now frequently with possessive.frequented1586–1677 Commonly practised or used. Obsolete.consuetudinary1590– According to consuetude, custom, use and wont, or usage; customary.ordinary1605– Normally found or experienced; common, customary, usual. Chiefly in predicative use, in it is ordinary (with a person to do something, etc.); (also)…consuetudinal1656– Pertaining to custom, of use and wont. spec. in Philology, esp. as the epithet of a particular mood in Celtic languages.habitual1689– Commonly or constantly used; usual, accustomed.solent1694 ? Usual, customary.regulation1803– That is prescribed by, or in accordance with, a regulation or regulations; (hence) standard; of a typical or predictable type.usitate1885– Customary, usual.View in Historical Thesaurus3.b.1623–31 † Of a report, etc.: Widely current. Of a book: Widely circulated, popular. Obsolete.1623I was not then fully persuaded of the prince's going to Spain, though the report were frequent, from London. in R. F. Williams, Birch's Court & Times of James I (1849) (modernized text) vol. II. 3691628His frequent'st Workes goe out in single sheets. J. Earle, Micro-cosmography xxv. sig. E101629'Tis frequent in the Citie, he hath subdued The Catti, and the Daci. P. Massinger, Roman Actor i. i. sig. Bv1631The story is frequent. J. Weever, Ancient Funerall Monuments 62CiteHistorical thesauruspublishingsociety communication information publishing or spreading abroad [adjectives] published or spread abroad publisheda1400– Formerly: †public; carried out openly; celebrated, noted, notorious; (obsolete). Also: declared, announced; (of a book, a musical composition…divulgatea1440–1574 Made public, spread abroad. (Chiefly used as past participle = divulged.)well-sunga1450– Skilfully or pleasingly sung. Also: †skilfully, pleasingly, or frequently praised in song (obsolete).vulgatea1522–1782 Widely known, familiar; widespread, popular. Obsolete.promulgate1526–1838 Promulgated, set forth, proclaimed. Frequently as past participle.blazed1590– Published, made famous.divulged1607– frequent1623–31 Of a report, etc.: Widely current. Of a book: Widely circulated, popular. Obsolete.promulgated1657– announced1769– That has been made known by public or official statement; that has been the subject of an announcement.publicized1822– That has been brought to the attention of the public; that has been given publicity. Frequently with preceding adverb.broadcast1825– figurative. Scattered or spread widely; extensively or publicly disseminated.vulgated1841– divulgated1842– outblown1851– Blown out; inflated; exaggerated.circulated1867– (See the verb.)well-publicized1917– Widely publicized; given a lot of publicity.View in Historical Thesaurussociety communication book kind of book books as sold [adjectives] best- or quick-selling well-selling1606– Esp. of a book: that achieves good sales or is sold in large numbers; that sells well. Cf. bestselling, adj.frequent1623–31 Of a report, etc.: Widely current. Of a book: Widely circulated, popular. Obsolete.bestselling1797– That achieves better sales, or is sold in greater numbers, than anything or anyone else; that is a bestseller.megaselling1983– Of a book, record, etc.: that sells many copies. Cf. megaseller, n.View in Historical Thesaurus4.1604– Happening or occurring at short intervals; often recurring; coming or happening in close succession. Of the pulse: Faster than is normal or usual (cf. French pouls fréquent).The prevailing sense, by which all the others, so far as they survive, are more or less coloured.1604Frequent, often, done many times. R. Cawdrey, Table Alphabeticall1615This watch-word will be frequent in his cups. J. Stephens, Satyrical Essayes 2601663Concerning which you may expect frequente letters. A. Marvell, Letter January in Poems & Letters (1971) vol. II. 2511707This Pulse is feverish..and frequenter than the former. J. Floyer, Physician's Pulse-watch 431750There have been frequent forgeries in the literary world. T. Newton, Milton's Paradise Lost1795The blights were this year..more frequent, and..more destructive than usual. Gentleman's Magazine vol. 65 539/21816These green banks..Brown, when I left them last, with frequent feet. J. Wilson, City of Plague i. i1860The snow was deep..and our immersions in unseen holes very frequent. J. Tyndall, Glaciers of Alps i. xxiii. 166CiteHistorical thesauruspathologythe world time frequency [adjectives] commona1325– Occurring, found, or done often; in general use; usual, prevalent.ofta1382– = often, adj. Now rare.yedera1400–50 Quick; frequent.oftena1450– Done, made, happening, or occurring many times; frequent. Now rare.thick?c1450–1667 Of actions: Occurring in quick succession; rapid, frequent. Also transferred of an agent. Obsolete.repeated1577– Done again or many times; renewed; frequent.obvious1586–1768 Frequently met with or encountered; commonly occurring. Obsolete.crebrousc1600–79 Frequent.frequent1604– Happening or occurring at short intervals; often recurring; coming or happening in close succession. Of the pulse: Faster than is normal or usual…thick and threefold1615–1809 Phrases. to lay it on thick: see 1c. thick and fast: see 3. thick and threefold adv. (n., adj.) phr. As adj. Abundant and frequent. Obsolete.oftentime1876– Frequent. rare.oft-time1895– That has been so frequently; frequent. Now chiefly U.S.View in Historical Thesaurusthe world health ill health a disease disorders of internal organs disordered pulse or circulation [adjectives] rapid pulse sublated1647–78 Heightened; raised. Obsolete.frequent1707 Happening or occurring at short intervals; often recurring; coming or happening in close succession. Of the pulse: Faster than is normal or usual…running1821– Medicine. Of the pulse: very rapid and weak. Now rare.fluttering1834– That flutters, in various senses of the verb.sharp1843– Eager, impetuous, violent. Of the pulse.View in Historical Thesaurus5.1575– Addicted to, wont to indulge in (a practice, course of action); accustomed to do (something); given to repetition in (a subject). Now rare.1575Bot weill ȝe knaw, thair is na men frequent To enter heir. J. Rolland, Treatise Court of Venus ii. f. 33v1608The holy Ghost in this booke, is very frequent in this point. J. Dod & R. Cleaver, Plaine Expos. Prov. ix. & xii. 101a1616He is..lesse frequent to his Princely exercises then formerly he hath appeared. W. Shakespeare, Winter's Tale (1623) iv. ii. 32a1631The Fathers are frequent in comparing..Eve, the Mother of Man, and Mary the Mother of God. J. Donne, Sermon (1953) vol. I. 2001649How frequent the Scripture is in the prohibition of this practice. Bishop J. Hall, Resolutions & Decisions i. i. 71710Fellows of this Class are very frequent in the Repetition of the Words Rough and Manly. R. Steele, Tatler No. 244. ⁋51873Milton is frequent in allusions to his own history and circumstances. J. H. Newman, Idea of University (ed. 3) 329CiteHistorical thesaurusthe world action or operation behaviour customary or habitual mode of behaviour [adjectives] accustomed, used, or wont wontOld English–1525 Accustomed, used to, familiar with (a thing, practice, or condition). Obsolete.haunteda1325– Practised; used, habituated, or accustomed (to a course); wonted. Obsolete exc. dialect.accustomed1429– Customary, habitual, usual.consuetec1503–1656 Accustomed, wonted.acquainted1572–1704 Accustomed to do something; familiar with something from use, possession, or experience. Obsolete.frequent1575– Addicted to, wont to indulge in (a practice, course of action); accustomed to do (something); given to repetition in (a subject). Now rare.occasioned1576– That has been occasioned. Formerly: spec. †having occasion or grounds; accustomed (obsolete).fain1596–1650 Apt, wont. Obsolete.wontlike1601 Wonted, accustomed.habited1605–51 That has become habitual; commonly practised; accustomed. Obsolete.habituate1606–79 Of a person: Grown accustomed (to a thing); established in a habit or custom (= habitual, adj. A.2b).wonted1611– = wont, adj. I.1. Now U.S.practised1656–67 Habitually used or frequented; accustomed, familiar. Obsolete.View in Historical Thesaurus6.a.1611 † That is often at or in (a place). Obsolete.CiteHistorical thesaurussociety inhabiting and dwelling inhabiting temporarily haunting or resorting [adjectives] conversant1340–1845 Dwelling habitually or frequently, accustomed to live or abide, passing much of one's time, in a place. (With various prepositions and adverbs.)haunting1388– That haunts, in various senses of the verb.frequent1611 That is often at or in (a place). Obsolete.View in Historical Thesaurus6.b.1611– (With an agent-noun): That does a thing often; constant, habitual, regular.1611In prisons more frequent: in deaths oft. Bible (King James) 2 Corinthians xi. 231628Fyve of the frequentest Comunicants. in J. A. Picton, City of Liverpool: Selections Municipal Records (1883) vol. I. 208a1640In sufferinge such a crew of riotous gallants..to bee so frequent Both in your howse and presence. P. Massinger, Parliament of Love (1976) i. a. 261785The timorous hare, Grown so familiar with her frequent guest, Scarce shuns me. W. Cowper, Task vi. 3061857Of course, the frequent writer will in time be quick. R. A. Willmott, Pleasures of Literature xi. 491885The Professor..was a frequent guest at my grandmother's tea-table. J. Ruskin, Præterita vol. I. vii. 211CiteHistorical thesaurusthe world action or operation behaviour customary or habitual mode of behaviour [adjectives] that does something habitually customablec1449–1645 Accustomed to something; in the habit of doing something. Modifying an agent noun. Cf. customary, adj. A.5b. Obsolete.accustomablec1475–1851 Habitual, usual, customary.inure1475–85 Accustomed, habituated; practised (in something).usual1579 Of persons: Customary, regular. Obsolete.frequent1611– (With an agent-noun): That does a thing often; constant, habitual, regular.habituated1619– Fixed in a habit, accustomed.customary1629– Modifying an agent noun: that habitually does the action specified. Cf. habitual, adj. A.2b.regular1782– Chiefly of a person (esp. a long-standing client or customer): doing the same thing or going to the same place frequently or habitually. Cf. sense…habitual1825– transferred. Of an agent: That habitually does or is what is denoted by the noun; constantly or customarily occupied in a practice. Of a volcano…View in Historical Thesaurus6.c.1609–32 † That is often in company with (a person); familiar; conversant in (a subject). Obsolete.1609Accuse me thus..That I haue frequent binne with vnknown mindes. W. Shakespeare, Sonnets cxvii. sig. H1615A talkative Barber: with whome he is the more frequent. J. Stephens, Satyrical Essayes 2141631He was..In the liberall arts so frequent, that they appeared rather innate and born with him, then..acquired. T. Heywood, England's Elizabeth (1641) 521632Euery hard name, which may appeare obscure or intricate to such as are not frequent in Poetry. T. Heywood, 2nd Part of Iron Age To Reader sig. A4vCiteHistorical thesaurussociety society and the community social relations [adjectives] sociable1573– Of a person, or occasionally an animal: inclined or disposed to seek and enjoy the company of others; friendly or affable in company; disposed to…frequent1609–32 That is often in company with (a person); familiar; conversant in (a subject). Obsolete.conversative1617–39 Belonging to, or fitted for, social intercourse; sociable. Obsolete.conversablea1631– Of, pertaining or proper to social intercourse, or converse.conversive1661–78 = conversative, adj.homiletical1668–91 Of or pertaining to familiar intercourse or discourse; conversable, sociable. Obsolete.social1788– Chiefly Social Sciences. Developing from or involving the relationships between human beings or social groups that characterize life in society, as s…interpersonal1842– Between persons; spec. a term introduced by H. S. Sullivan (1892–1949) to describe behaviour between people in any encounter.View in Historical Thesaurusthe world action or operation behaviour customary or habitual mode of behaviour [adjectives] accustomed, used, or wont familiar with or experienced in anything familiar1509– With with. Knowledgeable about a thing or person, esp. through direct experience. Also: having some knowledge of; aware of.frequentative1575 Accustomed, versed in. Obsolete. Scottish. rare.experienced1576– Of persons, their faculties and powers; occasionally of animals, and humorously of inanimate things: Having experience; wise or skilful through…beatena1593–1700 Of persons: Inured to (anything), experienced. Obsolete.frequent1609–32 That is often in company with (a person); familiar; conversant in (a subject). Obsolete.veteran1624– Having long experience in a particular (non-military) position, field, or activity.seasoneda1643– Of persons or animals: Fortified by habit; acclimatized; familiarized with a certain mode of life or occupation; †trained, disciplined.hackneyed1749– Formerly (of a person): †having long experience in a particular field; experienced, practised; veteran (obsolete). Hence in later use: jaded or…View in Historical Thesaurusthe mind operation of the mind knowledge knowledge, what is known familiarity [adjectives] knowing about, familiar with craftyOld English– Skilled, skilful; capable, ingenious, or expert in a specified field or activity. In early use sometimes: †learned, scholarly (obsolete) (cf. craft…slyc1175– Of persons: Skilful, clever, dexterous, or expert in doing something; possessing practical skill or ability; skilled, knowing, wise. (Also…coutha1225–1450 Acquainted, familiar. (with, of, or dative.)well acquainteda1250– Very familiar with a person or thing.privyc1300– Of an action, fact, circumstance, etc.: secret, confidential; kept from public knowledge. Now rare (archaic in later use).cunningc1325–1667 Possessing knowledge or learning, learned; versed in (†of) a subject. Obsolete.well-groundeda1438– Of a person: that has a good knowledge of or training in the fundamental aspects of a subject; well versed in a skill or subject. Of knowledge or…acquainted?a1439– Having personal or direct knowledge gained from experiencing something; familiar with a matter, state, etc., esp. to an extensive degree. Also with…familiar1509– With with. Knowledgeable about a thing or person, esp. through direct experience. Also: having some knowledge of; aware of.at home1531 At ease as if in one's own home; in one's element; familiar or conversant with; well versed in.overseen1533–1610 That has looked into or studied a subject; expert, versed, or skilled to a specified extent in a text or some area of expertise. Cf. oversee, v. I.3…intelligent1546– That understands or knows (a particular situation, subject, etc.); cognizant of; acquainted with; well-versed in. Now rare.long-experienced1567– conversant1573– Versed or experienced in; ‘well up’ in.skilful1596–1631 Having a good knowledge of a subject. Obsolete.accomplished1603– In predicative use. Highly skilled or trained in (a particular sphere or activity).frequent1609–32 That is often in company with (a person); familiar; conversant in (a subject). Obsolete.well (better, best) verseda1610– With premodifying adverbs, esp. well (better, best) versed.understanding1612– Const. in (a matter, etc.). Now rare or Obsolete.sound1615– Of sober or solid judgement; well-grounded in principles or knowledge; thoroughly versed and reliable.studieda1616–58 Prepared by learning or careful thought for or to do something. Obsolete. rare.technical1617– Of a person: having knowledge of or expertise in a particular art, science, or other subject; skilled in the formal and practical techniques of a…versed1622– Of persons: Experienced, practised, or skilled in a subject, matter, art, etc.; conversant with, having an intimate knowledge of, something; expert…conversing1724 Conversant. Obsolete.versant1787– Of persons. Conversant, familiar, or intimately acquainted with a subject or person.on intimate habits1809 The condition of being accustomed to something through having constantly to do with it; familiarity. on intimate habits: on intimate terms, familiar…special1830– Exceptional in quality or degree; unusual; out of the ordinary; esp. excelling in some (usually… Of a person: exceptionally good, talented, etc…inquainted1849– pre-acquainted1907– Having previous acquaintance or knowledge.sophisticated1952– Of a person: free of naïvety, experienced, worldly-wise; subtle, discriminating, refined, cultured; aware of, versed in, the complexities of a…View in Historical Thesaurusadverb1614– Frequently, often. (nonstandard in later use.)1614Such like more occurre in ancient and later Storie very frequent. J. Selden, Titles of Honor 61785Th' old And crazy earth has had her shaking fits More frequent. W. Cowper, Task ii. 611810Nor frequent does the bright oar break The darkening mirror of the lake. W. Scott, Lady of Lake i. 301870But his smile it was pensive and childlike, As I frequent remarked to Bill Nye. B. Harte, Truthful James iiCiteHistorical thesaurusirregular Updated 2021the world time frequency [adverbs] oftOld English– Now archaic and regional (chiefly English regional (northern)). = often, adv. A.1a, A.2.thickOld English– In close or rapid succession; frequently; quickly; fast. Often thick and fast. (See also thick and threefold at sense 6.)unseldeOld English–1330 = unseldom, adv.ylomeOld English–1400 Frequently, often; phrase oft and ylome.oftsithec1175–1500 = oftsithes, adv.oftsithesc1175–1570 Many times, on many occasions; frequently, often. Cf. oftentimes, adv.lomec1200–1475 Frequently; phrase oft and lome.oftlya1225–1844 = often, adv.oft-stounds1303–1400 often-stounds, oft-stounds: often. that stounds: at that moment. Obsolete.continuallyc1305– In a continual way; always, incessantly, constantly, perpetually, all the time; i.e. either: Without any intermission, at every moment, continuously…oftena1325– Many times; at many times; on numerous occasions; frequently; for a significant amount or proportion of the time.rifely1357– Commonly, frequently; customarily.oft-timesc1384– = oftentimes, adv.oft-timec1387– = oftentimes, adv. Now chiefly U.S. and poetic.oftentimesa1393– Many times; on many occasions; in many cases; frequently, often.oftentimec1395– = oftentimes, adv.fele-sitha1400 In combination with noun, forming an adjective, as fele-kyn, of many kinds, various; or an adverb, as fele-sith, fele-syss, feltymes many times…lightlya1400–1676 As is likely or inclined to happen; commonly, often. Obsolete.oftentide?a1400 rifea1400–1614 Frequently, often. Obsolete.seresitha1400 Several times.many a foldc1400–1504 The words manifold, threefold, etc. (see -fold, suffix) have occasionally been viewed (erroneously) as… many a fold = many times, with many…often sithec1405–1577 hauntinglyc1440 Frequently, customarily. Obsolete.by many a foldc1450–1577 The words manifold, threefold, etc. (see -fold, suffix) have occasionally been viewed (erroneously) as… by many a fold: in manifold proportion, many…fele-syss1489 In combination with noun, forming an adjective, as fele-kyn, of many kinds, various; or an adverb, as fele-sith, fele-syss, feltymes many times…frequently1531– At frequent or short intervals, often, repeatedly.feltymesc1540 In combination with noun, forming an adjective, as fele-kyn, of many kinds, various; or an adverb, as fele-sith, fele-syss, feltymes many times…oftens1567– = often, adv.oftenly1574– = often, adv.frequent1614– Frequently, often. (nonstandard in later use.)repeatedlya1647– More than once, again and again; frequently.(as) often as not1723– In colloquial phrases, as often and often: very often, repeatedly (now rare); (as) often as not, more often (or oftener) than not: usually…more often (or oftener) than not1723– In colloquial phrases, as often and often: very often, repeatedly (now rare); (as) often as not, more often (or oftener) than not: usually…not uncommonly1747– not uncommonly, not rarely; pretty frequently.not infrequently1779 Not frequently; somewhat rarely, seldom. Now chiefly in not infrequently = rather frequently.deliverly1811–25 Scottish. Without stopping; continually. Obsolete.(at) every whip-stitch1824– (at) every whip-stitch, at short or frequent intervals. Also (without at), each item without exception; ‘every last thing’. dialect and U.S.oftenwhilesa1850– at short intervals1859– Of a period of time, of a process, state or action considered as extending over a period of time: Having little extent in duration, lasting but…View in Historical Thesaurus
Pronunciation
British English /ˈfriːkw(ə)nt/
FREE-kwuhntU.S. English /ˈfrikwənt/
FREE-kwuhntPronunciation keysBritish EnglishConsonantsppeatteakkeybbuyddyeɡguytʃchoredʒjayfforeθthawssoreʃshorevveeðtheezzeeʒbeigexlochhhayllayɬrhingyllrraywwayjyoremmaynnayŋsingSome consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Frequency
frequent is one of the 5,000 most common words in modern written English. It is similar in frequency to words like plot, prisoner, silent, tribe, and younger.It typically occurs about 30 times per million words in modern written English.frequent is in frequency band 6, which contains words occurring between 10 and 100 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bandsFrequency of frequent, adj. & adv., 1750–2010 * Occurrences per million words in written English Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on a corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010. The Ngrams data has been cross-checked against frequency measures from other corpora, and re-analysed in order to handle homographs and other ambiguities. The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations. Show data tableDecade Frequency per million words 175073176070177081178085179072180072181064182063183061184057185057186053187052188053189048190049191047192040193038194039195037196036197036198033199029200027201027Frequency of frequent, adj. & adv., 2017–2023 * Occurrences per million words in written English Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English. Show data tablePeriod Frequency per million words Oct.–Dec. 20179.3Jan.–Mar. 201815Apr.–June 201815July–Sept. 201816Oct.–Dec. 201816Jan.–Mar. 201915Apr.–June 201915July–Sept. 201916Oct.–Dec. 201916Jan.–Mar. 202016Apr.–June 202016July–Sept. 202017Oct.–Dec. 202016Jan.–Mar. 202115Apr.–June 202115July–Sept. 202117Oct.–Dec. 202116Jan.–Mar. 202215Apr.–June 202216July–Sept. 202218Oct.–Dec. 202217Jan.–Mar. 202317
Compounds & derived words
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frequently, adv.
1531–
At frequent or short intervals, often, repeatedly.
unfrequent, adj.
1611–
= infrequent, adj. 3.
over-frequent, adj.
a1640–
frequentness, n.
1664–
The state or condition of being frequent; frequency.
frequent flyer, n.
1980–
(a) A person who regularly travels by aeroplane, esp. on the same route or with the same airline; (b) attributive, designating or relating to a…
Entry history for frequent, adj. & adv.frequent, adj. & adv. was first published in 1898; not yet revisedfrequent, adj. & adv. was last modified in July 2023The following sections of this entry have been updated:Main sense (December 2021) Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include: corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into frequent, adj. & adv. in July 2023. Earlier versions of frequent, adj. & adv. were published in:OED First Edition (1898)Find out moreOED Second Edition (1989)Find out moreView frequent, adj. & adv. in Second EditionCiteChicagoOxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , . Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard MLA9“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , . Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard Select format to download citation.ris (Papers, Zotero).enw (EndNote).txt (RefWorks)DownloadContributePlease submit your feedback for frequent, adj. & adv.Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose. Section (required)FactsheetEtymologyMeaning & usePronunciationFrequencyCompounds & derived wordsOtherFeedback (required)SubmitCitation detailsFactsheet for frequent, adj. & adv.Browse entryNearby entriesfrequency distortion, n.1932–frequency distribution, n.1895–frequency diversity, n.1931–frequency illusion, n.2005–frequency modulation, n.1922–frequency polygon, n.1897–frequency response, n.1926–frequency shift, n.1944–frequency spectrum, n.1955–frequent, n.1631–35frequent, adj. & adv.1531–frequent, v.1477–frequentable, adj.a1586–frequentage, n.1814–frequentance, n.1593frequentation, n.?1520–frequentative, adj. & n.1530–frequented, adj.1578–frequenter, n.1613–frequent flyer, n.1980–frequentist, n.1949–Browse more nearby entries
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frequent | meaning of frequent in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
frequent | meaning of frequent in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
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frequent
Word family
(noun)
frequency ≠ infrequency
(adjective)
frequent ≠ infrequent
(verb)
frequent
(adverb)
frequently ≠ infrequently From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfrequentfre‧quent1 /ˈfriːkwənt/ ●●○ W3 adjective
OFTENhappening or doing something often OPP infrequentmore/less frequent
Her headaches are becoming less frequent.
Trains rushed past at frequent intervals.
She was a frequent visitor to the house.Examples from the Corpusfrequent• That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.• As the treatment began to take effect, her headaches became less frequent.• The vertiginous episodes tend to grow less frequent and less severe as hearing loss progresses.• There were frequent attempts to check it.• As a frequent business traveler, I have spent many nights in bland hotel rooms.• My duties brought me into frequent contact with Captain Nagumo.• Despite frequent double-teaming, Shaw was still the Bears' most viable receiving option.• Simmons is a frequent guest on daytime TV talk shows.• Its use is most frequent in the field of consumer products.• Fighting may be restrained because the advantage of dangerous tactics will decrease as the habit becomes more frequent in the population.• There are frequent references in her notes to such visits.• The doctor recommended frequent salt baths to help the wound heal.• Bradycardia is a frequent side effect.
more/less frequent• The air raids were becoming heavier and more frequent.• The vertiginous episodes tend to grow less frequent and less severe as hearing loss progresses.• These references to Niagara Falls as a manifestation of the Divine would become even more frequent as the century advanced.• Mature horses need less frequent attention but should be checked annually.• Increased and improved communication plus the passage of time and more frequent face-to-face contacts should greatly improve understanding.• Fighting may be restrained because the advantage of dangerous tactics will decrease as the habit becomes more frequent in the population.• Wealth was much more frequent than abject poverty.• Pale forms much more frequent than dark.frequentfre‧quent2 /frɪˈkwent $ frɪˈkwent, ˈfriːkwənt/ verb [transitive] formal
OFTENto go to a particular place often
The bar was frequented by actors from the nearby theatre.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusfrequent• Again, he was in an hotel, although not the kind he would normally care to frequent.• Nor are the skies above frequented by commercial airlines, which eliminates interfering radar signals.• He tells the friend that he rarely frequents such spots because nature is not his teacher.• Although he frequented the great houses of the city, his own quarters were modest.• Mallard duck, grey wagtail and occasionally kingfishers frequent the waterside. 6.Origin frequent (1400-1500) French Latin frequens “crowded, full”
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Verb tablefrequentSimple FormPresentI, you, we, theyfrequenthe, she, itfrequents
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PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theyfrequentedPresent perfectI, you, we, theyhave frequentedhe, she, ithas frequentedPast perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad frequentedFutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill frequentFuture perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have frequented
> View Less
Continuous FormPresentIam frequentinghe, she, itis frequenting
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you, we, theyare frequentingPastI, he, she, itwas frequentingyou, we, theywere frequentingPresent perfectI, you, we, theyhave been frequentinghe, she, ithas been frequentingPast perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad been frequentingFutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill be frequentingFuture perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have been frequenting
> View Less
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