Cool MateSeldom
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.