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every once in a while

ADJECTIVE
periodic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annual intermittent monthly occasional recurrent recurring regular repeated routine seasonal sporadic weekly yearly
STRONG
periodical
WEAK
alternate at various times centennial cyclic cyclical daily epochal every so often fluctuating hourly infrequent isochronal isochronous on certain occasions on-again-off-again orbital perennial rhythmic serial spasmodic
Antonyms
STRONGEST
constant infrequent unusual
WEAK
continual irregular lasting permanent sporadic variable
ADVERB
every now and then
Synonyms
STRONGEST
every so often now and again now and then
WEAK
ever so often from time to time once and again once in a while sometimes
ADVERB
from time to time
Synonyms
WEAK
ever so often every now and then infrequently not often now and again occasionally once and again once in a while periodically sometimes sporadically
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 from time to time hardly irregularly not often 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 intervals at times every so often fluctuating from time to time irregularly now and then occasionally on occasion once in a while sometimes sporadically vacillating variably
ADVERB
on and off
Synonyms
WEAK
at intervals at times discontinuously every now and then every so often from time to time hardly infrequently intermittently irregularly now and again now and then occasionally off and on on occasion once in a blue moon once in a while periodically sometimes sporadically

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.

Hence, whenever the agent pitched the idea to revive the book — “it would come up every once in a while, because she definitely needed income” — Butler dismissed her.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

But every once in a while, we get a little wink, an ounce of good luck, an unearned gift, a happy accident, and this recipe falls in that category.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

You guys have those every once in a while, it lasts an afternoon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Remember when the stock market used to take a breather every once in a while?

From MarketWatch • Oct. 10, 2025

He yells at me through the door every once in a while to turn my music down, but he never comes in.

From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper