: often
oft asked questions
an oft quoted statement

Examples of oft in a Sentence

as I have oft said, you need to look before you leap
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 opening and final sequences of the film’s frame story are some of the most oft referenced in movie history, while the dark, labyrinthine interiors of Desmond’s mansion perfectly reflect the mind of the deluded diva whose success and celebrity are completely behind her. Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 Keep an eye out for the oft-appearing Babbo Natale (otherwise known as Santa). Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025 Workers at Europe’s two biggest seaports have temporarily suspended their labor action as more vessels pile up near the oft-congested gateways. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025 Indeed, the drawbacks of these machines for the wrist—their reliance on a human being as an energy source, their lack of uniformity within identical reference numbers, even their oft-finicky nature—are what gives them their considerable charm. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oft

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German ofto often

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oft was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oft. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

oft

adverb
: often
an oft neglected factor

More from Merriam-Webster on oft

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