Continually vs. continuously
Continually and continuously are both adverbs; their respective adjective forms are ‘continual’ and ‘continuous’.
- Continually means “in a way that is repeated many times”, or “repeated frequently in the same way”. As in, “ continually update this blog site with new posts and information on English grammar”.
- Continuously means “in a way that happens or exists for a period of time without being interrupted”. As in, “He was checking his phone continuously throughout the entire movie, which irked me severely”.
It rained continuously for three days.
Notice how he continually interrupts the speaker.
It’s a subtle difference, and concerns whether what occurs is disrupted or not. If something happens on a regular or ongoing basis, but not unceasingly, then it is continual (or occurs continually).
Conversely, something that goes on uninterrupted, (e.g., “the faucet dripped continuously throughout the night”) means the faucet did not stop dripping all night. If (at a point) the faucet had stopped dripping, then it would be better described as having dripped ‘continually’ (example is borrowed from the Blue Book of Grammar).
“Continually” / “continuously”, used in sentences
| Word Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Other | New products are continually being developed.
They argue continually about money. This prevents the system from continuously trying to deliver email. He has lived and worked in France almost continuously since 1990. |
“Continual” / “continuous”, used in sentences
| Examples: “continual”, used in sentences | Examples: “continuous”, used in sentences | |
| He was in a continual process of rewriting his material.
We lived in continual fear of being discovered. |
Recovery after the accident will be a continuous process that may take several months.
The organization aims to create a culture of “continuous improvement”. |
“continuously,” think “uninterrupted flow,” like a continuous stream; “continually” suggests repeated actions with breaks, like continually checking your phone.
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for continuously
interminably
never-ending
endlessly
perpetually
relentlessly
unceasingly from
unlimitedly
without end
Synonyms for continually
frequently
regularly
repeatedly
constantly
continuously
Synonyms for continuously
Synonyms for continually
Word origin (of continuous/continuously)
Early 14c., continuell, “proceeding without interruption or cessation; often repeated, very frequent,” from Old French continuel (12c.) and directly from Latin continuus … from continere (intransitive) “to be uninterrupted,” literally “to hang together”
Worksheet: Word choice
Question 1 of 5
The machine worked ______ for eight hours without a break.
She was ______ interrupted by phone calls while she was working.
It rained ______ for three days; it never stopped.
He was ______ reminding me to finish my homework.
The river flows ______ to the sea.
FAQs
What is the main difference?
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The distinction between them concerns whether the action or happening is disrupted or not. Continually means repeated many times, while continuously means without being interrupted.
When do I use ‘continually’?
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Use ‘continually’ for actions or happenings that are repeated frequently, perhaps with breaks in between. The post gives examples like “He continually interrupted the speaker” or “New products are.
When do I use ‘continuously’?
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Use ‘continuously’ for actions or happenings that occur for a period of time without being interrupted. The post uses examples like “The rain fell continuously for three days” or “The faucet.
Can I use ‘continuous’ as an adverb?
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No, ‘continuous’ is an adjective. The post shows “The sun shone continuous all day” is incorrect; the adverb form ‘continuously’ should be used to modify the verb, as in “The sun shone.
Which word implies an action with breaks?
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‘Continually’ implies an action repeated many times or frequently, often with breaks. The post notes using ‘continuously’ for something with breaks (like checking a phone) is incorrect;.
The machine worked ______ for eight hours without a break.
She was ______ interrupted by phone calls while she was working.
It rained ______ for three days; it never stopped.
He was ______ reminding me to finish my homework.
The river flows ______ to the sea.
What is the main difference?
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When do I use ‘continually’?
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When do I use ‘continuously’?
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Can I use ‘continuous’ as an adverb?
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Which word implies an action with breaks?
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Yash, D. "How to Use Continually vs. Continuously (Usage + Examples)." Grammarflex, Sep 11, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/continually-vs-continuously/.
