Occasionally

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /əˈkeɪʒənəli/

Definitions

1. Happening from time to time but not regularly or often
2. Occurring now and then but lacking a consistent pattern or frequency
3. Taking place at intermittent intervals rather than in a regular manner

Etymology: "Occasionally" is a plain formation: the adjective "occasional" with the adverbial ending "-ly" added. "Occasional" itself comes from "occasion," which traces back through Old French "occasion" to Latin "occasio," meaning a chance, opportunity, or favourable moment, and is related to "occidere," to fall down or come to an end, as in the sense of an event that falls at a particular time. The adverb took shape in Middle English, where spellings such as "occasionaly" and "occasyonly" appeared before the modern form settled. Its core idea has stayed the same since then: something happens when the occasion arises, which is why the word suits events that come at irregular intervals rather than on a schedule.

Synonyms: sometimes, periodically, intermittently, from time to time, now and then

Antonyms: frequently, regularly, often, habitually, consistently