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

Relevance

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
  • But even with 22 tracks to work with, the sound too often defaults to a similar muted backdrop, which blurs some of the less distinct songs together.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The remote wilderness of Patagonia can so often feel inaccessible to the casual visitor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of often
Adverb
  • Barbaro is strong as always, though — even if Mira speaks up frequently and seems unintimidated in the phallocentric environment — the actress could have been given more to do.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Gamblers who lose frequently are the bettors sportsbooks are most interested in, Matthew Gaskell, a British psychologist and expert on gambling addiction, said.
    — ProPublica, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of frequently
Adverb
  • The October 2025 cease-fire plan freed the last remaining Israeli hostages and ostensibly ended hostilities, but Israel continues to constantly strike targets in Gaza, often killing civilians, including some 300 children in the past year.
    — KHALED ELGINDY, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Onstage, Slayyyter, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, is a force, constantly moving around the stage, thrashing her head along to the music and screaming the lyrics to her songs.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of constantly
Adverb
  • Pillay has repeatedly rebuffed critics who accused her of antisemitism or turning a blind eye to the Hamas attacks in Israel.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Foreign policy emerged as another major point of contention, particularly when moderator Rick Albin repeatedly pressed el Sayed to say whether Israel or Iran posed the greater threat to the United States.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 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 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All