What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Frequent vs Seldom - What's the difference?

frequent | seldom |

In obsolete terms the difference between frequent and seldom

is that frequent is often or commonly reported while seldom is rare; infrequent.

As adjectives the difference between frequent and seldom

is that frequent is done or occurring often; common while seldom is rare; infrequent.

As a verb frequent

is to visit often.

As an adverb seldom is

infrequently, rarely.

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.
    Related terms
    * frequency * frequently * infrequent * frequently asked question (FAQ)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) frequenter, from (etyl)

    Verb

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

    External links

    * * English heteronyms ----

    seldom

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Infrequently, rarely.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed.}}
  • *{{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?}}
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=71, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= End of the peer show , passage=Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend.}}

    Usage notes

    It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. * Compare He seldom ever plays tennis.'' with ''He almost never plays tennis.

    Synonyms

    * barely * hardly * rarely * scarcely * infrequently

    Antonyms

    * often * frequently

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) rare; infrequent
    • A suppressed and seldom anger. — Jeremy Taylor.

    Anagrams

    * English frequency adverbs