WordGarden.ioconsistently
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /kənsˈɪstəntli/
US
- /kənˈsɪstəntli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a steady, regular, or reliable way over time
in a way that agrees with something else and does not contradict it
in a way that satisfies formal consistency conditions in logic, mathematics, or statistics
Beyond the definition
To do something consistently means to do it over and over again in the same way—reliably and without big changes. Think of a metronome keeping perfect time; that’s the idea. If you consistently practice the piano, you’ll improve. It suggests a steady habit or pattern. A chef who consistently delivers delicious meals builds a loyal following. Sometimes it means something happens in a predictable way: “It rained consistently all week.”
"Consistently" describes an action or quality that happens at regular intervals or in a uniform way over time. It's more than just doing something once; it implies a pattern of behavior or a predictable outcome. Imagine a lighthouse beam sweeping across the ocean—its light shines consistently, providing a reliable guide for ships.
You might say someone is "a consistently good student," meaning they always achieve high grades, or that a company has "consistently innovative products," indicating they regularly release new and creative items. It's often used to highlight positive traits: "She consistently demonstrates leadership skills." However, it can also describe negative patterns: "He consistently arrives late for meetings."
The key is the regularity and predictability. A one-time occurrence isn't consistent; a habit or established pattern is. Think of a dripping faucet—if it drips at the same rate all day, every day, that's consistent. If it only drips when it rains, that's not.
So, whether you're talking about habits, performance, or natural phenomena, "consistently" emphasizes reliability and the continuation of something in a predictable manner. It's about showing up—again and again—with the same quality or frequency.
Examples
- 1
Punctuality
She consistently gets to class a few minutes early.
- 2
Cafe quality
This cafe is consistently good, so I bring visitors here.
- 3
Refusal
He has consistently refused to talk about what happened.
- 4
Sales trend
Sales have risen consistently over the past six months.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Writing quality
Her writing is consistently clear, even when the topic is technical.
- 6
Practice habit
If you practice consistently, your pronunciation will improve faster.
- 7
Policy application
The new policy has not been applied consistently across all schools.
- Patternapply + rule/policy consistently
carry it out in the same way each time or in each place
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- consistently high
- perform consistently
- consistently applied
- consistently across
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- consistentlyadverb