not often

ADVERB

from time to time

Synonyms

WEAK

ever so often every now and then every once in a while infrequently now and again occasionally once and again once in a while periodically sometimes sporadically

ADVERB

hardly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barely comparatively practically rarely seldom simply somewhat

STRONG

just

WEAK

almost inconceivably almost not by a hair by no means detectably faintly gradually imperceptibly infrequently little no more than no way not a bit not at all not by much not likely not markedly not measurably not much not notably not noticeably not quite once in a blue moon only only just perceptibly pretty near scantly slightly sparsely sporadically with trouble

Antonyms

STRONGEST

frequently

WEAK

very

ADVERB

little

Synonyms

STRONGEST

a little barely hardly rarely seldom

WEAK

hardly ever not many not quite only just scarcely somewhat

Antonyms

STRONGEST

frequently

WEAK

more much

ADVERB

now and then

Synonyms

STRONGEST

every now and then every so often infrequently intermittently now and again occasionally periodically sporadically

WEAK

at intervals at times every once in a while from time to time hardly irregularly off and on on occasion once and again once in a blue moon once in a while once or twice sometimes

ADVERB

off-and-on

Synonyms

WEAK

alternately at irregular intervals fluctuating hardly infrequently intermittent irregularly on and off scarcely sometimes sporadically vacillating variable very seldom when the mood strikes

ADVERB

on and off

Synonyms

WEAK

alternately at irregular intervals fluctuating inconstantly infrequently intermittently irregularly now and then off and on sometimes sporadically uncertainly variable very seldom when the mood strikes

ADVERB

seldom

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 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

ADVERB

uncommonly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

exceptionally extremely remarkably strangely unusually

WEAK

extra hardly ever in few instances irregularly now and then occasionally oddly on occasion particularly peculiarly rarely scarcely ever seldom sporadically very

Antonyms

STRONGEST

normally usually

WEAK

commonly frequently

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.

In the show, Hamm’s ex-wife, played by actress Amanda Peet, is going through perimenopause, a life stage not often depicted on TV, and especially notable in a series that’s mainly about misbehaving men.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

It's not often BBC Radio 1 come to the Scrum V desk looking for help lining up a guest.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

It’s not often mentioned whether these retirees are living on monthly Social Security payments or something else.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

“This case was unusual — it’s not often we see someone end up as a John Doe twice,” project team leader Traci Onders said in the release.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

The Orgota evidently do not often come into their Fire-Hills.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

not often

Example Sentences

Related Words