chronically

American  

[kron-ik-lee] / ˈkrɒn ɪk li /

adverb

1. happening constantly or habitually.

   Nationally, millions of students are chronically absent every year.

2. happening or recurring over an extended period of time (opposed toacutely ).

   Monitoring is especially helpful for chronically ill patients wishing to avoid costly hospital stays.

   Close to 900 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished.

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Other Word Forms

• nonchronically adverb
• subchronically adverb
• unchronically adverb

Etymology

Origin of chronically

chronic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

Example Sentences

“We were chronically understaffed for the amount of things we wanted to take on,” McCardel said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

The system is certainly chronically overloaded, with some of the longest-running trials in the EU.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

But with turnout among younger generations chronically low and Takaichi's ruling party unpopular, polls suggest the excitement may not translate into votes.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Unfortunately, workplace harassment is pervasive and chronically underreported.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Maybe it was a home with a chronically ill relative who was interested in regular examination by a young person who would listen endlessly to ailments and take precise notes.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan