oftentimes

adverb

of·ten·times ˈȯ-fən-ˌtīmz

ˈȯf-tən-

Synonyms of oftentimes next

: on many occasions : often

The quickness of the hand oftentimes deceives the eye.—

W. V. Quine

Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results.—

Herman Melville

Oftentimes they were asleep, but occasionally might be heard talking together …—

Nathaniel Hawthorne

A man's ignorance sometimes is not only useful, but beautiful – while his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless …—

Henry David Thoreau

Oftentimes cyclists mistake dehydration for hunger.—

Brian Wansink

Did you know?

Despite its archaic, literary ring, oftentimes is quite alive today. In fact, it seems to be more popular now than it was in past decades, appearing frequently both in written expression and in speech. Oftentimes was first used in the 14th century (the same century that gave us often), and its meaning hasn't changed—as meanings oftentimes will—in all that time. It was formed as an extension of its slightly older synonym ofttimes. Today ofttimes is less common, but oft (which comes from Old English and also means "often" or "frequently") is popular in combination with past participles, as in oft-praised.

Examples of oftentimes in a Sentence

Oftentimes, he is the only man in the aerobics class. children oftentimes don't realize how quickly time passes

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The panel — which oftentimes finds itself at the center of controversy in Washington — has jurisdiction over federal courts and law enforcement, among other areas. —

Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2024 These clichés about the importance of family abound, despite the recognition that familial relations are oftentimes hard, if not downright dysfunctional. —

Jeanette Tran, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024 One side note is that oftentimes people tend to use generative AI on a one-and-done basis. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 And much to my dismay, the result is oftentimes a disappointing dish. —

Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for oftentimes