continually
kuhn-TIN-yoo-uh-lee
/kənˈtɪnjuəli/
Over and over again; at very frequent intervals.
Describes repetition that is so frequent it feels constant, even though there are breaks.
The story behind the word. Derived from the adjective 'continual', emphasizing the repetitive nature of an action.
Word relationships
- repeatedly: Repeatedly is more neutral; continually often implies annoyance or a high frequency.
- rarely: Rarely means almost never.
Commonly confused with
- continuously: Continuously is 'all the time'; continually is 'every time'.
Word family
- continual (adjective): Frequent.
Collocations
- continually ask
- continually remind
- continually change
Example sentences
- "She continually checks her watch when she is nervous." Describing a habit.
- "The software continually crashes whenever I try to upload a large file." Describing a recurring problem.
Memory hook
Continually has 'ALLY' at the end. Your 'ally' is someone who helps you 'again and again'. A ticking clock.
When not to use
Do not use for a single long-duration event (like a 10-hour flight).
Fun facts
- If you say someone is 'continually talking', you mean they keep starting new conversations; if you say they are 'continuously talking', you mean they haven't taken a breath in an hour.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.