sometimes

some‧times S1 W1 /ˈsʌmtaɪmz/ BrE AmE adverb
on some occasions but not always ⇨ occasionally:
I sometimes have to work late.
Sometimes, Grandma would tell us stories about her childhood in Italy.
‘Do you ever wish you were back in Japan?’ ‘Sometimes. Not very often.’
The journey takes an hour, sometimes even longer.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ sometimes on some occasions but not always: Sometimes, I wish I was still living in Tokyo. | He sometimes plays football with my brother.
▪ occasionally (also on occasion written) used about something that only happens a few times. Occasionally is used when something happens more rarely than sometimes: I prefer trousers but I do wear skirts occasionally. | Occasionally, operations have to be cancelled. | On occasion, prisoners were allowed visits from their families.
▪ (every) now and then/again (also from time to time) sometimes but not often or regularly: We still call each other every now and then. | Every now and again, an invention comes along which changes people's lives completely. | Even experienced doctors make mistakes from time to time.
▪ every so often sometimes at fairly regular periods: He looked up from his book every so often. | Every so often, a train whizzed past.
▪ at times if something happens at times, it happens sometimes but is not what usually happens: The job can be frustrating at times. | At times I've wondered whether I made the right decision in moving here.
▪ (every) once in a while sometimes but very rarely: We only see each other every once in a while.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sometimes

some·times [ˈsʌmtaɪmz] [ˈsʌmtaɪmz] adverb
occasionally rather than all of the time
• Sometimes I go by car.
• He sometimes writes to me.
• I like to be on my own sometimes.
Thesaurus:
sometimes [sometimes] adv.
• the cafe where he sometimes has lunch
occasionally • • at times • • from time to time • • now and again/then • • on occasion(s) • • once in a while • • every so often • • off and on/on and off •
appear/wonder sometimes/occasionally/at times/from time to time
happen sometimes/occasionally/at times/from time to time/now and again
think sometimes/at times/from time to time that…
Example Bank:
• It is sometimes difficult to know where to begin.
• It was the cafe where he sometimes had lunch.
• National boundaries have changed, sometimes dramatically, over the last hundred years.
• She sometimes goes away at weekends.
• Sometimes I look at him and wonder what is going on in his mind.
• Sometimes I think we'll never see each other again.

• They played tennis and golf and sometimes went swimming.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sometimes / ˈsʌm.taɪmz / adverb

A1 on some occasions but not always or often:

Sometimes we take food with us and sometimes we buy food when we're there.

Sometimes it's best not to say anything.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sometimes

[sʌ̱mtaɪmz]
ADV: ADV with cl/group, ADV with v
You use sometimes to say that something happens on some occasions rather than all the time.
  During the summer, my skin sometimes gets greasy...
  Sometimes I think he dislikes me...
  You must have noticed how tired he sometimes looks...
  Other people's jobs were exactly the same - sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sometimes

some·times /ˈsʌmˌtaɪmz/ adv : at certain times : occasionally
• His jokes are funny, but sometimes he goes too far.
• Sometimes I take the bus to work.
• We all make mistakes sometimes.
• She works nine hours a day, sometimes more than that.
• The word is sometimes used figuratively.a