[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/often/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [O](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/o/) / often # often adverb (often, more often, most often; also oftener) «often» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Often means many times. If you often play, you play a lot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#m1) 2. «How often» asks how many times something happens in a time, like each day or week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#m2) ### In the lessons In maths: how frequently something happens; «how often» asks about times per day or week; «every 15 minutes» answers it. In everyday life: habits and routines («I often walk to school»). In science: «how often» an event happens is its frequency. In stories: «as often as not», «every so often». ### Examples - How often does the bus come? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x1) - She often reads before bed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x2) - The bus comes every 15 minutes, so how often in an hour? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x3) - We often go to the beach in summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x4) - How often do you brush your teeth? Twice a day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x5) - It often rains in Ireland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x6) - Every so often, a shooting star crosses the sky. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x7) - Dogs often wag their tails when they are happy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x8) - False confidence often leads to disaster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/#x9) ### Note «How often» asks for a rate or number of times. Plain «often» carries no number. Trap: do not guess a number from «often». The «t» is often silent, but saying it is also correct. Order of frequency words: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. ## In Jewish tradition In maths: how frequently something happens; «how often» asks about times per day or week; «every 15 minutes» answers it. In everyday life: habits and routines («I often walk to school»). In science: «how often» an event happens is its frequency. In stories: «as often as not», «every so often». ### Examples - Such diagrams are often arranged so that the letter א Alef is across from ל Lamed, spelling the name אֵל El, God. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x1) - Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x2) - must not be confused with Zain, Z ; and lastly Qoph, Q is very often replaced by K, which is hardly defensible as there is a true K in addition. ' 44. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x3) - For as often as thou speakest of him, thou waggest the head. (Prophets JER.48.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x4) - He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be broken, and that without remedy. (Writings PRO.29.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x5) - David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and as often as he went in, he lay all night upon the earth. (Prophets 2SA.12.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/#x6) ### Note «How often» asks for a rate or number of times. Plain «often» carries no number. Trap: do not guess a number from «often». The «t» is often silent, but saying it is also correct. Order of frequency words: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «often» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/often/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«often» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/often.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «often» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/often/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«often» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/often.html) on Mova free.