Continually

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɪnjuəli/

Definitions

1. Happening repeatedly over a long period of time, often with brief pauses or interruptions between occurrences
2. Occurring in a repeated manner without significant interruptions, typically over an extended timeframe
3. Taking place repeatedly and often consistently, often with short breaks in between events

Etymology: "Continually" is simply "continual" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, and that ending has a long pedigree of its own. It descends from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "body" or "form," which combined with a suffix to produce a sense of "having the shape or likeness of." Over the centuries, Old English turned this into "-līce," which then shortened to the modern "-ly" that turns adjectives into adverbs, so "continually" is a word built from a noun that once meant something like "form" and a suffix that quietly remodeled its meaning along the way. The base word "continual" traces back through Old French and ultimately to Latin "continuus," meaning "uninterrupted" or "connected," which is also the source of "continuous." The two words are close relatives, but "continually" and "continuously" have drifted apart in use: "continually" more often describes something recurring again and again, while "continuously" describes something that never stops.

Synonyms: constantly, repeatedly, ceaselessly, perpetually, incessantly

Antonyms: intermittently, occasionally, seldom, rarely, sporadically