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Understanding the Context

How to use often in a sentence. Often is an adverb meaning ‘many times on different occasions’. Like many other short adverbs, we use it in front position, in mid position (between the subject and the main verb, or after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb) or in end position: … Definition of often adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Key Insights

If something often happens, it happens many times or much of the time. They often spent Christmas together. That doesn't happen very often. Many times; frequently. [Middle English, alteration (probably influenced by selden, seldom) of oft, from Old English; see upo in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: The pronunciation of often with a (t) is a classic example of what is known as a spelling pronunciation.

Final Thoughts

Adverb often (comparative more often or oftener, superlative most often or oftenest) Frequently; many times on different occasions.