Phrase guide

every so often

adv · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Occasionally; intermittently; irregularly; now and then; once in a while.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • Check on the houseplants every so often to see if they need watering.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

occasionally

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • every so often she visits her father

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: every now and then

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: van tijd tot tijd — occasionally
  • Dutch: af en toe — occasionally
  • French: de temps en temps — occasionally
  • German: ab und zu — occasionally
  • Greek: σποραδικά (sporadiká) — occasionally
  • Greek: κατά καιρούς (katá kairoús) — occasionally
  • Greek: κατά διαστήματα (katá diastímata) — occasionally
  • Italian: ogni tanto — occasionally
  • Italian: di tanto in tanto — occasionally
  • Russian: время от времени (vremja ot vremeni) — occasionally
  • Spanish: de vez en cuando — occasionally
  • Swedish: då och då — occasionally
  • Swedish: lite då och då — occasionally
  • Swedish: med jämna mellanrum — occasionally