irregularly
/ɪˈreɡjələli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈreɡjələrli/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˈ)i, ə, (ˈ)ir, (ˈ)iə+/ (ame, mw)
irregularly — adverb
1. with gaps, timings, or spaces that do not follow a steady pattern.
with gaps, timings, or spaces that do not follow a steady pattern.
The buses arrived irregularly during the stormy night in Kaohsiung.
arrive irregularly = uneven timing
Rain fell irregularly all week, with long dry hours between showers.
Kemi slept irregularly after the fever and woke before dawn twice.
Streetlights were placed irregularly along the old road near the harbor.
- unevenly
good for spacing or distribution, but less natural for time
- sporadically
stresses rare appearances rather than simply an uneven pattern
- erratically
suggests a more wild or hard-to-predict pattern
文法句型
arrive irregularly
occur irregularly
be spaced irregularly
用法筆記
Often follows verbs about arrival, sleep, rainfall, movement, or placement. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about an uneven pattern, not about doing something against a rule.
常見錯誤
2. with a shape, surface, or spread that is uneven instead of smooth or balanced.
with a shape, surface, or spread that is uneven instead of smooth or balanced.
The child cut the paper irregularly, leaving one side much wider.
cut irregularly = uneven edge or shape
Snow lay irregularly on the roof, with bare patches near the chimney.
Paint spread irregularly across the wet wall and formed dark streaks.
The cookies baked irregularly because the oven door would not shut.
- unevenly
the closest everyday match for surfaces, spacing, or spread
- patchily
best when coverage comes in separate spots rather than a full spread
- asymmetrically
more formal and often used when the two sides do not match
文法句型
be shaped irregularly
spread irregularly
cut irregularly
用法筆記
Usually describes edges, surfaces, baked results, or things arranged across a space. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about timing or intervals rather than physical form.
常見錯誤
3. contrary to the rule, proper method, or official procedure that should be follow
contrary to the rule, proper method, or official procedure that should be followed.
Officials counted the votes irregularly after sealing some boxes too early.
count irregularly = against official procedure
The club admitted guests irregularly, letting friends skip the waiting list.
Christopher was promoted irregularly, without the exams other staff had taken.
The school spent grant money irregularly and failed its yearly audit.
- improperly
focuses on doing something in the wrong way, not always against a formal rule
- unlawfully
stronger, used when the broken rule is specifically a law
- wrongly
broader and less formal than 'irregularly'
文法句型
act irregularly
be appointed irregularly
handle funds irregularly
用法筆記
Often appears in official, legal, or administrative contexts where a process should follow a rule. Distinguish from sense 1: late or uneven payments fit sense 1, but payments made against policy fit sense 3.
常見錯誤
4. with forms that change differently from the normal grammar pattern of a language
with forms that change differently from the normal grammar pattern of a language.
This verb changes irregularly in the past tense, so students memorize it.
change irregularly in the past tense
Layla noticed that the plural was formed irregularly in her Arabic class.
The noun is spelled irregularly, unlike most words with this ending.
Children learn early that some English verbs conjugate irregularly.
- anomalously
formal and rare, often used in linguistic analysis
- exceptionally
too broad in everyday use, but possible in grammar discussion
- nonstandardly
focuses on being outside the standard form rather than just unusual
- regularly
following the normal grammar pattern
文法句型
conjugate irregularly
be spelled irregularly
decline irregularly
用法筆記
Used mainly in grammar explanations with words such as conjugate, decline, spell, and form. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense describes language patterns, not people breaking rules.