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What is the difference between frequent and often?

frequent | often |

As an adjective frequent

is done or occurring often; common.

As a verb frequent

is to visit often.

As an adverb often is

frequently, many times.

frequent

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frequent, from (etyl) .Schwartzman, The Words of Mathematics: An Etymological Dictionary of Mathematical Terms Used in English

Adjective

  • Done or occurring often; common.
  • I take frequent breaks so I don't get too tired.
    There are frequent trains to the beach available.
    I am a frequent visitor to that city.
  • Occurring at short intervals.
  • * Byron
  • frequent feudal towers
  • Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice; habitual; persistent.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • He has been loud and frequent in declaring himself hearty for the government.
  • (obsolete) Full; crowded; thronged.
  • * Ben Jonson
  • 'Tis Caesar's will to have a frequent senate.
  • (obsolete) Often or commonly reported.
  • * Massinger
  • 'Tis frequent in the city he hath subdued / The Catti and the Daci.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) frequenter, from (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To visit often.
  • I used to frequent that restaurant.
    Derived terms
    * frequenter

    often

    English

    Adverb

    (en-adv)
  • Frequently, many times.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-08, volume=407, issue=8839, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Obama goes troll-hunting , passage=According to this saga of intellectual-property misanthropy, these creatures [patent trolls] roam the business world, buying up patents and then using them to demand extravagant payouts from companies they accuse of infringing them. Often , their victims pay up rather than face the costs of a legal battle.}}

    Synonyms

    * frequently * occasionally * usually

    Antonyms

    * infrequently * rarely * seldom

    Derived terms

    * as often as not