frequent

1 of 2

verb

fre·​quent frē-ˈkwent  ˈfrē-kwənt 

frequented; frequenting; frequents

transitive verb

1

: to associate with, be in, or resort to often or habitually

a bar frequented by sports fans

a restaurant frequented by local politicians

2

archaic : to read systematically or habitually

frequentation

ˌfrē-ˌkwen-ˈtā-shən 

-kwən-

noun

frequenter noun

frequent

2 of 2

adjective

fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt 

1

a

: common, usual

a frequent practice among these people

b

: happening at short intervals : often repeated or occurring

a bus making frequent stops

2

obsolete : full, thronged

3

: acting or returning regularly or often

a frequent visitor

a frequent customer

4

archaic : intimate, familiar

frequentness noun

Synonyms

Verb

• affect
• habituate
• hang (at)
• haunt
• resort (to)
• visit

Adjective

• constant
• habitual
• periodic
• periodical
• regular
• repeated
• steady

Examples of frequent in a Sentence

Verb

He began frequenting cheap bars.

a neighborhood frequented by tourists

a restaurant frequented by local politicians

Adjective

We made frequent trips to town.

This bus makes frequent stops.

She was a frequent visitor to the museum.

He is one of our most frequent customers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Serpentine has two separate gallery spaces, each situated in Hyde Park—a 350-acre public park in West London, frequented mostly by tourists and the citizens of the wealthy neighboring postcodes. —Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025

Contact information for one of Trump’s new press staffers was written on a piece of notebook paper and taped to a computer monitor in an area frequented by the press. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Those jumps for joy weren’t so frequent in the NHL a year ago. —Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

The food at Mar-a-Lago can be mediocre, several frequent guests said, but the seafood buffet catches praise. —Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, ample, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, crowded, from Latin frequent-, frequens

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing frequent

• frequent-flier
• frequent-flyer

Kids Definition

frequent

1 of 2 adjective

fre·​quent ˈfrē-kwənt 

1

: happening often

made frequent trips to town

2

: regular entry 1 sense 3b, habitual

a frequent visitor to the museum

frequently adverb

frequentness noun

frequent

2 of 2 verb

fre·​quent frē-ˈkwent 

ˈfrē-kwənt

: to visit, associate with, or go to often

frequents the library

frequenter noun