sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 

: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly

gunfire being heard sporadically

software updates that appear sporadically

Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.

—Rick Jervis

Even when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.

—Tim Beardsley

Examples of sporadically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hardly any sleep, eating sporadically, always a wary eye on the weather, but in this case you’re surrounded by water with nobody around for possibly hundreds of miles. —George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025

While snowfall has been below average for the season, lake-effect snow could sporadically affect parts of northern Illinois, potentially reducing visibility during commutes. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

The reptile wiggles its feet back and forth sporadically. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025

Popular on Variety Schwimmer has returned to the small screen sporadically over the years. —Max Gao, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above