sporadically
Americanadverb
-
every now and then; at irregular intervals in time.
Ox-eye sunflowers bloom sporadically throughout the summer.
-
here and there; in scattered locations.
Little candles, placed sporadically among the chapel pews, lit up people’s faces.
Etymology
Origin of sporadically
First recorded in 1675–85; sporadic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )
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.
Through credit facilities, banks offer annual preapproved lines of credit that at times are only used sporadically or in part.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
Since then, when he has sporadically been healthy enough to compete, he has said that the most difficult part is simply walking the course.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Everton have competed sporadically in Europe throughout the 21st century, most recently in 2017-18 when they featured in the Europa League.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
Lutnick and his family visited Epstein on his island in 2012, and the two were in business and otherwise corresponding sporadically over the years; at least one email suggests they had scheduled drinks.
From Slate • Feb. 14, 2026
One contained nothing but a boiling grey smoke that flickered sporadically.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
