frequent

English

Etymology 1

From Old French frequent, from Latin frequens (“crowded, crammed, frequent, repeated, etc.”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhrek- (“to cram together”).

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹiː.kwənt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

frequent (comparative more frequent or frequenter, superlative most frequent or frequentest)

1. Done or occurring often; common.

   I take frequent breaks so I don't get too tired.

   There are frequent trains to the beach available.

   I am a frequent visitor to that city.

   • 1999, Nicholas Walker, “The Reorientation of Critical Theory: Habermas”, in Simon Glemdinning, editor, The Edinburgh Encyclopedia of Continental Philosophy‎, Routledge, →ISBN, page 489:

     During the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, this commitment brought him into frequent critical confrontation with entrenched forms of conservative thinking [...]

2. Occurring at short intervals.
   • 1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: Printed for John Murray, , →OCLC, stanza LV.2, page 31:

     Above, the frequent feudal towers / Through green leaves lift their walls of grey, [...]

3. Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice; habitual; persistent.
   • 1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. , London: Benj Tooke, , →OCLC, page 59:

     [E]very Man thinks he has laid in a ſufficient Stock of Merit, and my pretend to any Employment, provided he has been loud and frequent in declaring himſelf hearty for the Government.

4. (obsolete) Full; crowded; thronged.
   • 1603 (first performance; published 1605), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Seianus his Fall. A Tragœdie. ”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: Will Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC:

     'Tis Caesar's will to have a frequent senate.

5. (obsolete) Often or commonly reported.
   • 1626, Philip Massinger, The Roman Actor:

     'Tis frequent in the city he hath subdued / The Catti and the Daci.

Synonyms

• regular
• recurring
• continual
• steady

Antonyms

• rare
• uncommon

Derived terms

• frequent flier, frequent flyer

Related terms

• frequency
• frequently
• infrequent
• frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Translations

Etymology 2

From Old French frequenter, from Latin frequentare (“to fill, crowd, visit often, do or use often, etc.”), from frequens (“frequent, crowded”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɹɪˈkwɛnt/
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

frequent (third-person singular simple present frequents, present participle frequenting, simple past and past participle frequented)

1. (transitive) To visit often.

   I used to frequent that restaurant.

Derived terms

• frequenter
• unfrequented

Translations

References

Further reading

• “frequent”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “frequent”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French frequent.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /frɛˈkʋɛnt/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: fre‧quent
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

Adjective

frequent (comparative frequenter, superlative frequentst)

1. frequent

   Synonyms: veelvuldig, vaak

Inflection

Related terms

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin frequens.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):
• Hyphenation: fre‧quent

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

frequent (strong nominative masculine singular frequenter, comparative frequenter, superlative am frequentesten)

1. (dated or medicine) frequent

Declension

Further reading

• “frequent” in Duden online
• “frequent” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Old French

Adjective

frequent m (oblique and nominative feminine singular frequent or frequente)

1. frequent; often

Declension

Descendants

• → English: frequent
• French: fréquent