What does regularly mean?
Regularly means at consistent intervals or according to a usual pattern. It is used for events that recur predictably, such as meetings, inspections, maintenance, or public transport, and it can also describe conduct performed in a consistent and orderly manner. In everyday use, “regularly” often means “frequently,” although the word’s underlying idea is as much about consistency and regularity as it is about frequency. For example, a bus that runs every fifteen minutes is regular, while one that arrives whenever the driver chooses is not. The word is suitable in both formal and informal contexts and is often used in administrative, institutional, and everyday descriptions. It can also be paired with words such as “scheduled,” “used,” “updated,” and “checked,” where it emphasizes an established routine. Its Latin roots connect it with “rule,” “regular,” and “regularity,” all of which share the sense of order, pattern, or consistent conduct.
adverbAt regular intervals or in a regular, consistent manner. It can also mean according to a usual rule, pattern, or arrangement.
- At regular intervals or with consistent frequency.
- In a consistent, orderly, or customary manner.
"The library is regularly used by students preparing for examinations."
"The train departs regularly throughout the day."
"Her account was regularly checked against the original records."
From the Latin regula, meaning “rule,” regularly literally means “according to a rule”—and its opposite is not merely unusual, but irregular.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does regularly come from?
“Regularly” comes from the Latin regularis, meaning “according to rule” or “conforming to a standard,” derived from regula, “rule.” It entered English in the early 16th century in the sense of acting according to a rule or principle. Over time, its meaning developed to include the modern sense of occurring at consistent or stated intervals. Related English forms include “regular,” “regularity,” “regularize,” and “regularization,” while “regulate” also reflects the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How regularly is actually used
“Regularly” is neutral and widely used in formal and informal contexts. It can suggest either predictable frequency or careful adherence to an established rule, depending on the context.
Easily confused with regularly
“Regularly” is an adverb describing how something happens, while “regular” is primarily an adjective describing something that follows a consistent pattern or standard.