adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/kənˈtɪnjuəli/
/kənˈtɪnjəli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AH0 N T IH1 N Y UW0 AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:K AH0 N T IH1 N Y UW0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In regular or repeated succession; very often.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Hecklers continually interrupted my speech.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
In a continuous manner; non-stop.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: proscribed, sometimes
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
seemingly without interruption
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
complained continually that there wasn't enough money
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English continual Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English continually From continual + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مرارا
(mirāran)
— in regular or repeated succession
Arabic:
مرارا وتكرارا
(mirāran wa takrāran)
— in regular or repeated succession
German:
immer wieder
— in regular or repeated succession
German:
immerzu
— in regular or repeated succession
Polish:
bezustannie
— in regular or repeated succession
Arabic:
عمال
(ʕammāl)
— in a continuous manner
Catalan:
continuadament
— in a continuous manner
Esperanto:
senĉese
— in a continuous manner
Finnish:
jatkuvasti
— in a continuous manner
German:
ständig
— in a continuous manner
German:
andauernd
— in a continuous manner
Ancient Greek:
συνεχῶς
(sunekhôs)
— in a continuous manner
Hebrew:
עוד
(od)
— in a continuous manner
Hungarian:
folyamatosan
— in a continuous manner
Irish:
de ghréas
— in a continuous manner
Japanese:
絶え間なく
(taemanaku)
— in a continuous manner
Latin:
iūgiter
— in a continuous manner
Latin:
assiduē
— in a continuous manner
Khiamniungan Naga:
thùolòuhkō
— in a continuous manner
Norman:
continnuellement
— in a continuous manner
Plautdietsch:
eegol
— in a continuous manner
Portuguese:
continuamente
— in a continuous manner
Russian:
непреры́вно
(neprerývno)
— in a continuous manner
Scottish Gaelic:
daonnan
— in a continuous manner
Scottish Gaelic:
an còmhnaidh
— in a continuous manner
Scottish Gaelic:
gu sìor
— in a continuous manner
Spanish:
continuadamente
— in a continuous manner
Spanish:
continuamente
— in a continuous manner
Tamil:
தொடர்ந்து
(toṭarntu)
— in a continuous manner