at times
451
1.0
- idiom
:
a veces
- The weather can change unexpectedly at times, so it's wise to carry an umbrella.
- feel at times
- seem at times
- difficult at times
We have sensory issues at times, loud noises.
- We have sensory issues at times, loud noises.
- He was quite tough at times, from what I read.
- And you know, I'm sure at times he would have been nervous.
- You can you can farm that control out to people at times and it's OK.
- And so it's a it's a little rough at times, but it's such a blast.
- Both are very intelligent, witty, at times even funny people.
- But my mom at times would get angry.
- So how can something so good be at times so harmful?
- I'm certain that we'll listen to each other at times and respond.
- This is such a difficult and at times a nightmare situation.
- But you do have to mask it at times to protect yourself.
- But even in that context, I remember at times feeling a little harassed.
- Well, this, the world can be so sad at times, you know, I haven't.
- I I find it at times complicated or I used to.
- OK, bit soapy at times, but excellent mother.
- The amount of things that people sourced at times was a little surprising.
- Does the Liverpool sneak in at times when you're doing other things?
- And there's a lot of very emotional, at times probably quite disturbing content.
- My children at times think I'm funny.
Examples
-
The trip in high school is not always easy; decisions are at times overwhelming and life-changing.
Academic text (2011) -
And I just feel like at times it's a little bit unfair.
-
But my mom at times would get angry.
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Like how challenging has it been at times for your mental health?
-
"I feel very lonely myself, at times.
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So how can something so good be at times so harmful?
-
This is such a difficult and at times a nightmare situation.
-
You see retirement can be so boring at times.
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We need to, not constantly, but at times, venture into spaces that are new.
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Because at times, the act of living can be suffocating!
Synonyms
∞
1.0
On some occasions but not always
438
2.0
Happens sometimes but not often
427
1.6
Sometimes, but not very often
285
1.0
Happens sometimes but not very often
267
1.4
Happens sometimes but not regularly
137
2.0
Sometimes, not very often
79
1.7
It happens sometimes but not very often
73
2.0
Happens sometimes but not regularly
54
2.3
Happens sometimes but not very often
41
2.4
Happens sometimes, but not very often
30
2.5
Happens sometimes but not regularly
13
6.5
Happening only sometimes and not regularly
Antonyms
How Often
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + times
The meaning 'occasionally' is directly derivable from combining 'at' (indicating a temporal/location relation) with 'times' (occasions): 'at times' literally means 'at certain times' or 'on some occasions'. This compositional pattern is common across languages and standard in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase at times comes from the simple image of something happening 'at' certain times, like moments on a clock that come and go. That's why at times means 'occasionally' or 'sometimes', not 'all the time'.