Definitions

seldom

[sel-duhm] / ˈsɛl dəm /

ADVERB

infrequently

Synonyms

STRONGEST

a few times hardly occasionally rarely scarcely sometimes sporadically

WEAK

every now and then from time to time hardly ever in a few cases inhabitually irregularly little not often not very often on and off once in a blue moon once in a while scarcely ever semioccasionally uncommonly unoften unusually whimsically

Antonyms

STRONGEST

frequently regularly

WEAK

often usually

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Seldom does a day pass without someone coming up to Monday to say thank you, or to shake his hand.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Seldom does an institution’s form so happily capture its character.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

"Seldom does a true masterpiece such as this - particularly by a painter as important as Canaletto - appear on the art market," he said.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

"Seldom in the history of U.S. antitrust law has one case had the potential to do so much good for so many people," noted John Newman, deputy director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2023

Seldom did any ship come to them even from Soders or Rolameny, they having nothing to trade for bronze or fine wares; they had not even any wood.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Vocabulary lists containing seldom

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11

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The Crossover

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List 7

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