occasional
word
/əˈkeɪʒənəɫ/
uh-KAY-zhuh-nuhl
/əkˈeɪʒənəl/
uh-KAY-zhuh-nuhl
Definition
Happening from time to time, but not regularly or frequently.
Usage & Nuances
'Occasional' is formal-neutral and used with nouns ('occasional visit', 'occasional rain'). It cannot replace 'sometimes' in a sentence. For frequency, it suggests rare but possible events. Not used for things that never happen or happen all the time.
Spanish: ocasionalPortuguese (BR): ocasionalPortuguese (PT): ocasionalChinese (Simplified): 偶尔的Chinese (Traditional): 偶爾的Hindi: कभी-कभी काArabic: عارِض - من حين لآخرBengali: মাঝে মাঝে - অপ্রায়িকRussian: случайный - время от времени происходящийJapanese: たまの - 時々のVietnamese: thỉnh thoảng - lác đácKorean: 가끔의 - 이따금의Turkish: ara sıra olan - nadiren olanUrdu: کبھی کبھار - گاہے بگاہےIndonesian: thỉnh thoảng - đôi khi
Example Sentences
We have occasional meetings for our project.
basic
There is occasional rain in the summer.
basic
She enjoys an occasional glass of wine with dinner.
basic
He's an occasional smoker, not a regular one.
natural
You might get the occasional email from the school.
natural
The occasional delay doesn't really bother me.
natural