From Middle English often, alteration (with final -n added due to analogy with Middle English selden) of Middle English ofte, oft, from Old English oft, from Proto-Germanic *ufta, *uftō ("often").

• (RP) IPA: /ˈɒf(t)ən/, /ˈɔːf(t)ən/
• (America) IPA: /ˈɔf(t)ən/
  • (cot-caught) IPA: /ˈɑf(t)ən/
• (Canada) IPA: /ˈɒf(t)ən/

often

1. Frequently; many times.

   Synonyms: a lot, oftentimes, typically, Thesaurus:often

   Antonyms: infrequently, occasionally, rarely, seldom, unoften, Thesaurus:rarely

   I often walk to work when the weather is nice.

   I’ve been going to the movies more often since a new theatre opened near me.

   • 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] ‎, London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC ↗, page 557:

     ☞ This word [wrap] is often pronounced wrop, rhyming with top, even by ſpeakers much above the vulgar.

• oft

• French: souvent, souventefois (archaic)
• German: häufig, oft
• Italian: spesso, sovente
• Portuguese: frequentemente, seguido, amiúde
• Russian: ча́сто
• Spanish: a menudo, frecuentemente, seguido, con frecuencia

often

1. (archaic) Frequent.
   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:

     […] it is a melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects, and, indeed, the sundry contemplation of my travels; in which my often rumination wraps me in a most humorous sadness.

   • 1618, Anthony Munday (translator), The Third Booke of Amadís de Gaula by Nicolas de Herberay des Essarts (1542), London, Chapter 2, p. 18,

     Then came the Ladies to visite him, and the Queene gaue him most gracious welcome, desiring him to be of good cheere: For heere is my Daughter (quoth she) right skilfull in the Art of Chirurgerie, that meanes to bee your often visitant.