sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce sporadically (audio)
: 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
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.
Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the IRS non-filer program had run sporadically since 2016. Eamon Javers, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024 Playing the waiting game too long with someone who has shown flashes of brilliance so sporadically will come to bite you in the end. Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024 Security forces wielding clubs sporadically charged protesters to force back crowds and make arrests. David Brennan, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024 Even the accounts that have been able to continue posting sporadically still aren’t available for fans within the country who want to scroll through their old posts. Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sporadically 

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sporadically was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near sporadically

Cite this Entry

“Sporadically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporadically. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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