Occasionally vs Sometimes

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Occasionally	Sometimes
Meaning	Sometimes, but not often.	at certain times, but not always
CEFR level	B2	A1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Usage notes	Used in both spoken and written English. It often implies that something happens at irregular intervals, which makes it less formal than some alternatives, but still appropriate for most contexts.	Used to indicate regularity in actions, but not consistency. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts; avoid in very formal writing.

Frequently asked questions: Occasionally vs Sometimes

What's the difference between "Occasionally" and "Sometimes"?

"Occasionally" means: Sometimes, but not often. "Sometimes" means: at certain times, but not always

When should I use "Occasionally" and "Sometimes"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Occasionally" and "Sometimes" the same CEFR level?

"Occasionally" is at B2, "Sometimes" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.