frequency

/ˈfriːkwənsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfriːkwənsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrē-kwən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

frequency — noun

  • frequencysingular
  • frequenciesplural

1. how many times an event, action, or situation repeats over a set amount of time,

1.名詞B1
釋義

how many times an event, action, or situation repeats over a set amount of time, such as daily, weekly, or yearly

例句

The frequency of Lucía's visits to the dentist is twice a year.

collocation: frequency of + noun phrase describing repeated event

Feng noticed an increase in the frequency of his headaches during the winter months.

increase in the frequency of — common pattern

同義詞
  • rate

    broader term; can refer to speed or ratio, not just repetition

  • prevalence

    focuses on how widespread something is across a population rather than per-unit time

  • incidence

    formal term often used in statistics or medicine for the number of new cases

反義詞
  • infrequency

    the quality of happening rarely

  • rarity

    emphasises that something is unusual or uncommon

用法筆記

Often paired with modifiers such as 'high', 'low', 'increasing', 'decreasing', or 'alarming' to show the level of repetition.

常見錯誤

❌The frequency of rain tomorrow is 60 percent.
✅The probability of rain tomorrow is 60 percent.
💡'frequency' describes how often something happens over time, not the chance of a single event.
❌I go to the gym with a high frequency every day.
✅I go to the gym very often / every day.
💡'with high frequency' sounds unnatural for daily habits; use an adverb instead.

2. in physics, how many full cycles a wave — for example, a sound wave, a light wav

2.名詞B2
釋義

in physics, how many full cycles a wave — for example, a sound wave, a light wave, or a radio wave — completes each second

例句

Darius learned that sound waves with a low frequency produce a deep tone.

sound waves + low/high frequency affecting pitch

Greta adjusted the frequency of the signal until the music came through clearly.

同義詞
  • pitch

    how high or low a sound seems to the ear; technically related to frequency but not identical

  • oscillation rate

    formal technical term for the speed of vibration

用法筆記

In physics and engineering, frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz equals one cycle per second. The prefix (kilo-, mega-, giga-) indicates scale.

常見錯誤

❌The radio is quiet because the frequency is low.
✅The radio is quiet because the signal amplitude is low.
💡frequency affects pitch/tone, not loudness or signal strength.
❌This sound has a high frequency, so it is very loud.
✅This sound has a high frequency, so it has a high pitch.
💡frequency relates to pitch (how high or low a sound is), not volume.

3. a specific point on the range of radio-wave measurements that a radio or televis

3.名詞B2
釋義

a specific point on the range of radio-wave measurements that a radio or television station uses to send out its programmes or signals, measured in hertz

例句

Otis turned the radio dial until he found the correct frequency for the sports broadcast.

find/tune to a frequency

The college radio station broadcasts on a frequency of 92.5 megahertz.

broadcasts on a frequency of + number + unit

同義詞
  • channel

    commonly used as a practical alternative for a preset frequency, though technically different

  • wavelength

    related but inverse: wavelength = speed of light ÷ frequency

用法筆記

Radio frequencies are usually expressed in megahertz (MHz) for FM and kilohertz (kHz) for AM. Listeners 'tune to' or 'find' a frequency, while stations 'broadcast on' a frequency.

常見錯誤

❌My favourite TV show is on frequency 4.
✅My favourite TV show is on channel 4.
💡in broadcasting, 'channel' refers to a numbered station; 'frequency' is the technical wave measurement.