continuously
Americanadverb
-
without interruption or cessation; unceasingly.
To remain eligible for scholarship aid, a student must remain continuously enrolled at an educational institution located in the state.
-
in a directly connected way.
A mountainous spine, the Great Dividing Range, extends almost continuously from Far North Queensland to Victoria.
Other Word Forms
- noncontinuously adverb
- quasi-continuously adverb
- semicontinuously adverb
- uncontinuously adverb
Etymology
Origin of continuously
Explanation
Something that happens continuously doesn't stop. If you enter a dance marathon, dancing continuously for an entire day, it means that you keep dancing — without even one break — for 24 hours. The Latin root of continuously is continuare, or "join together, or connect."Anything that's done continuously happens without any interruption. When it rains continuously for three days, there isn't a single dry moment during that time, and if your friend laughs continuously for ten minutes, you'll start to worry that there's something seriously wrong with her.
Vocabulary lists containing continuously
Memorial Day Words
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
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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.
“The combination with Amazon Leo will advance innovations in digital connectivity that will benefit our customers and advance us toward a more intelligent, continuously connected world,” Globalstar CEO Paul Jacobs said in a statement.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
If it’s uncomfortable or unsustainable to live with continuously, ask your body why — and how it can help you make decisions that are the kindest possible to your nervous system.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
It will also be the first mission to continuously record the northern lights, which are caused by solar winds, for 45 hours at a time.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
“One that is immediately visible in global markets, continuously exercisable, and less dependent on prolonged negotiation cycles and diplomatic processes.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
But news agencies had been filming Fukushima Daiichi from the air almost continuously since the slow-motion accident had begun.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
