periodically

/ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪkli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌpɪriˈɑːdɪkli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌpir-ē-ˈä-di-k(ə-)lē/ (ame, mw)

periodically — adverb

1. again and again after similar lengths of time, often as part of a plan for check

1.副詞B2
釋義

again and again after similar lengths of time, often as part of a plan for checking, updating, or repeating something.

例句

The clinic emails patients periodically to remind them about flu shots.

mid-sentence: verb + periodically

Workers check the bridge periodically for small cracks after winter storms.

planned checks at repeated intervals

同義詞
  • regularly

    broader and more common; can describe habits as well as timed repetition

  • routinely

    often stresses that the action is part of normal procedure

  • repeatedly

    shows recurrence, but not always with similar time gaps

  • at set intervals

    more explicit about fixed spacing between times

反義詞

文法句型

mid-sentence: subject + periodically + verb

front-shifted: Periodically, + clause

end-position: clause + periodically

用法筆記

Often used for planned actions such as checks, reports, backups, or maintenance. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense suggests roughly even gaps or a repeated routine, not simply separate moments with pauses.

常見錯誤

❌The school checks periodically the fire alarm.
✅The school checks the fire alarm periodically.
💡in end-position, 'periodically' goes after the object, not between the verb and its object.
❌The nurse checks your blood pressure continuously every two hours.
✅The nurse checks your blood pressure periodically every two hours.
💡'continuously' means without stopping; 'periodically' means at repeated intervals.

2. at separate moments during a stretch of time, with breaks in between instead of

2.副詞B2
釋義

at separate moments during a stretch of time, with breaks in between instead of one steady action the whole time.

例句

Rain fell periodically through the afternoon, then the sky cleared.

not continuous; repeated with gaps

Lina looked up periodically from her book to watch the door.

subject + verb + periodically + from phrase

同義詞
  • intermittently

    more formal; often used for machines, signals, or symptoms

  • occasionally

    usually about infrequent events; less focused on stop-start rhythm

  • now and then

    informal and conversational

  • at times

    broad expression for certain moments within a period

反義詞

文法句型

verb + periodically + during [time period]

Periodically, + plural noun + verb

subject + verb + periodically + from/to + phrase

用法筆記

Common with weather, noises, body movement, or short actions that come back and stop again. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not suggest a schedule or planned timing.

常見錯誤

❌The light stayed on periodically all night.
✅The light came on periodically all night.
💡use a repeated event, not a continuous state, when you mean separate moments with gaps.
❌We clean the filters periodically every Monday.
✅We clean the filters periodically.
💡adding 'every Monday' pushes the meaning toward sense 1 with a fixed schedule.