What Is Another Way to Say “Not Often”?

Looking for synonyms for not often? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say not often.

  • Rarely
  • Infrequently
  • Seldom
  • Occasionally
  • Sporadically
  • Once in a while
  • Scarcely
  • Hardly ever
  • From time to time
  • Now and then
  • Every so often
  • On occasion
  • At intervals
  • Periodically
  • Uncommonly
  • Almost never
  • Not regularly
  • Few and far between
  • At times
  • On and off

Want to learn how to say not often professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Rarely

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens very infrequently.
Example: “The team rarely meets in person since the introduction of remote working tools.”

2. Infrequently

Appropriate to use when: Describing occurrences that happen at long intervals; not often.
Example: “The manager infrequently visits the offsite locations, usually only once per quarter.”

3. Seldom

Appropriate to use when: Referring to something that happens rarely or not often.
Example: “She seldom takes time off from work, focusing intensely on her projects.”

4. Occasionally

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens from time to time but not regularly.
Example: “The director occasionally checks in on the progress of the team’s projects.”

5. Sporadically

Appropriate to use when: Describing something that occurs at irregular intervals; not consistently.
Example: “Sporadically, the company holds team-building activities to boost morale.”

6. Once in a while

Appropriate to use when: Referring to something happening sometimes but not frequently.
Example: “Once in a while, we organize workshops to enhance skills outside our usual work scope.”

7. Scarcely

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens very seldom or almost never.
Example: “Scarcely does the team encounter technical issues with the new software.”

8. Hardly ever

Appropriate to use when: Describing an occurrence that is very rare or almost non-existent.
Example: “He hardly ever misses a deadline, always ensuring timely completion of tasks.”

9. From time to time

Appropriate to use when: Referring to something that happens occasionally but not regularly.
Example: “The CEO visits the branch offices from time to time to stay connected with regional teams.”

10. Now and then

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens occasionally, though irregularly.
Example: “Now and then, the department holds informal meetings to discuss non-work-related topics.”

11. Every so often

Appropriate to use when: Describing occurrences that happen occasionally but unpredictably.
Example: “Every so often, the company sponsors employees for external training programs.”

12. On occasion

Appropriate to use when: Referring to something happening sometimes but not frequently.
Example: “On occasion, the team will work overtime to meet crucial project milestones.”

13. At intervals

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens at certain times, spaced apart.
Example: “The company reviews its policies at intervals to ensure they remain relevant and effective.”

14. Periodically

Appropriate to use when: Describing something that occurs at regular or somewhat regular intervals.
Example: “The software is updated periodically to incorporate new features and improvements.”

15. Uncommonly

Appropriate to use when: Referring to something not happening frequently or only in unusual circumstances.
Example: “Uncommonly, the board will invite junior staff to attend high-level strategy meetings.”

16. Almost never

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something is extremely rare or close to non-existent.
Example: “The company almost never closes early, except in extreme weather conditions.”

17. Not regularly

Appropriate to use when: Describing an occurrence that doesn’t happen on a consistent, predictable schedule.
Example: “The team not regularly attends industry conferences, only when particularly relevant topics are discussed.”

18. Few and far between

Appropriate to use when: Referring to events or occurrences that are rare and happen infrequently.
Example: “Opportunities to work on such high-profile projects are few and far between.”

19. At times

Appropriate to use when: Indicating something happens occasionally, though not consistently.
Example: “At times, the office environment becomes very fast-paced, especially during product launches.”

20. On and off

Appropriate to use when: Describing something that occurs intermittently over a period.
Example: “He’s been working on the research project on and off for several years now.”

Linda Brown