C1adverb3K

Seldom

UK /["/ˈseldəm/"]/US /["/ˈseldəm/"]/

Definition

not often

Examples

  • She seldom goes to the gym because she prefers outdoor activities.
  • We seldom see such extraordinary talent in young artists.
  • He seldom speaks about his past, keeping those memories private.
  • They seldom eat out, usually cooking meals at home.
  • Seldom do we find a story so compelling and well told.

Usage notes

Use 'seldom' in neutral contexts to indicate something happens infrequently. Avoid in very formal writing; 'rarely' may be preferred. Stay away from casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

seldom + verb

Memory hint

Think of 'seldom' as 'sell-dumb' - it's dumb to sell something you hardly ever use.

Collocations

  • seldom seen
  • seldom heard
  • seldom used
  • seldom acknowledged
  • seldom mentioned

Synonyms

  • rarely

Antonyms

  • often
  • frequently
  • regularly

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'never' - 'seldom' means not often, not not at all.
  • Using 'seldom' with positive verb constructions - it's usually used in negative or interrogative forms.
  • Incorrectly placing 'seldom' at the end of a sentence; it should come before the main verb.