sporadically

adverb

spo·​rad·​i·​cal·​ly spə-ˈra-di-k(ə-)lē 

: in a sporadic manner : not regularly or constantly

gunfire being heard sporadically

software updates that appear sporadically

Originally from the western Pacific Ocean, the shrimp have been spotted sporadically in U.S. waters for the past two decades.

—Rick Jervis

Even when the sun is being well behaved, parcels of plasma shoot sporadically toward Earth's dark side, prompting a bright aurora and intensifying radiation belts.

—Tim Beardsley

Examples of sporadically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than dispersing plants sporadically, grouping them can significantly enhance their impact. —Nolan Lewis, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026

Placed sporadically throughout the galleries are screens displaying the idiosyncratic image of a single hand. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026

Reblooming bigleaf hydrangeas, for example, begin blooming in early summer and continue flowering sporadically until the first frost. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026

Mpox has been reported sporadically in central, east and west Africa, the agency said. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sporadically

• radically