oft

adverb

ˈȯft How to pronounce oft (audio)
Synonyms of oftnext
chiefly literary
: often
oft asked questions
an oft quoted statement

Synonyms of oft

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Examples of oft in a Sentence

as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Government officials are scrambling to sort out AI policy amid growing safety concerns, and as Zuckerberg fights to earn his company’s place among the oft-chaotic and hungry industry. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Bluster and bravado are big parts of the playbook for North Korea, an isolated and oft-sanctioned autocracy that the Kim family has ruled since 1948. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026 Sit in the moody, oft-packed inside bar, or head to the sprawling patio and enjoy a quintessential burger and fries. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026 Hansen can be cruelly mocking towards his oft-flustered but extremely professional producer Andie Bender (an astonishingly good Merritt Wever). — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oft

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German ofto often

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oft was before the 12th century

Rhymes for oft

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Browse Nearby Words

of sound mind
oft
often
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Cite this Entry

“Oft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oft. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

oft

adverb
ˈȯft How to pronounce oft (audio)
: often
an oft neglected factor
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