. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
you have here. The definition of the word
will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English oft (also ofte, often > Modern English often), from Old English oft (“often”), from Proto-West Germanic *oftu, *oftō, from Proto-Germanic *uftō (“often”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian oafte (“oft, often”), West Frisian oft, ofte (“oft, often”), Dutch oft (“oft, often”), German oft (“oft, often”). More at often.
Pronunciation
Adverb
oft (comparative ofter, superlative oftest)
- (chiefly poetic, dialectal, and in combination) often; frequently; not rarely
An oft-told tale
c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :What I can do, can do no hurt to try:
Since you ſet up your reſt 'gainſt remedy:
He that of greateſt works is finiſher,
Oft does them by the weakeſt miniſter;
So holy writ in babes hath judgment ſhown,
When judges have been babes.
- 1819, George Gordon Byron, John Galt (biography), The Pophecy of Dante, Canto the Fourth, 1857, The Complete Works of Lord Byron, Volume 1, page 403,
- And how is it that they, the sons of fame,
Whose inspiration seems to them to shine
From high, they whom the nations oftest name,
Must pass their days in penury or pain,
Or step to grandeur through the paths of shame,
And wear a deeper brand and gaudier chain?
- 1902, James H. Mulligan, In Kentucky, quoted in 2005, Wade Hall (editor), The Kentucky Anthology, page 203,
- The moonlight falls the softest
In Kentucky;
The summer days come oftest
In Kentucky;
Usage notes
- In widespread contemporary use in combination.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
often; frequently; not rarely; many times
Anagrams
Dutch
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *ufta. Cognate with English oft and German oft.
Adverb
oft (comparative ofter, superlative oftst)
- (obsolete) often
Further reading
oft - instituut voor de Nederlandse taal
German
Etymology
From Middle High German ofte, oft, uft, from Old High German ofta, ofto, oftu, from Proto-Germanic *ufta, *uftō (“often”). Cognate with Dutch oft, English oft and often.
Pronunciation
Adverb
oft (comparative öfter, superlative am öftesten)
- often
- Synonyms: dauernd, des Öfteren, fortgesetzt, gehäuft, häufig, immer wieder, laufend, mehrfach, mehrmalig, mehrmals, öfter, öfters, oftmalig, oftmals, regelmäßig, ständig, vielfach, vielmals, wiederholt, x-mal, zigmal
Usage notes
- The superlative is, for whatever reason, sometimes frowned upon and is predominantly replaced with am häufigsten in formal style. The comparative is also sometimes replaced with häufiger.
Synonyms
Further reading
- “oft” in Duden online
- “oft” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Hunsrik
Pronunciation
Adverb
oft
- often
Further reading
Icelandic
Etymology
From Old Norse oft (“often”) and opt (“oft, often”).
Pronunciation
Adverb
oft (comparative oftar, superlative oftast)
- often
Ég fer oft í ræktina.- I often go to the gym.
Ég hef sigrað oftar en þú!- I've won oftener than you!
Derived terms
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *ufta.
Pronunciation
Adverb
oft (comparative oftor, superlative oftost)
- often
Antonyms
Descendants
Old Norse
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *ufta.
Adverb
oft
- often
Descendants
Old Saxon
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *ufta.
Adverb
oft
- often
Descendants
Pennsylvania German
Etymology
Compare German oft, English often, Swedish ofta.
Adverb
oft
- often, frequently
Synonyms
Romanian
Etymology
From aht.
Noun
oft n (plural ofturi)
- sigh
Declension