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Definition of regular adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

regular

adjective
 
 
/ˈreɡjələ(r)/
 
/ˈreɡjələr/
Idioms
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    following pattern

  1.  
     following a pattern, especially with the same time or space in between each thing and the next
    • regular breathing
    • a regular pulse/heartbeat
    • A light flashed at regular intervals.
    • There is a regular bus service to the airport.
    • regular meetings/visits
    • We also hold a regular monthly meeting.
    • The equipment is checked on a regular basis.
    • She writes a regular column for a national newspaper.
    • a regular geometric pattern
    opposite irregular
    Extra Examples
    • His blood pressures was taken at regular intervals.
    • She enjoyed his increasingly regular visits.
    • The paintings are changed on a regular basis.
    • at fairly regular intervals
    • highly regular patterns
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • highly
    • very
    • perfectly
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    frequent

  2.  
     done or happening often
    • Do you take regular exercise?
    • I'm still in regular contact with friends I met at university.
    • Domestic violence is a regular occurrence in some families.
    • a painter whose work is a regular feature of the Summer Exhibition
    • The key to good anti-virus software is regular updates.
    opposite irregular
    Extra Examples
    • She went on with her regular evening task of doing the accounts.
    • Eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise.
    • In the 1950s he made regular appearances on Broadway.
    • Nightmares and night-time anxiety are a regular feature of his work.
    • Power cuts were a fairly regular occurrence.
    • There were regular complaints of obstruction caused by parked vehicles.
    • The plant requires regular pruning to maintain its shape.
    • There were regular disputes over boundaries.
    • This breed of dog benefits from a regular supply of green vegetables in its diet.
    Topics Timea2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    • become
    • …
    adverb
    • very
    • fairly
    • pretty
    • …
    phrases
    • at regular intervals
    • on a regular basis
    See full entry
  3.  
     [only before noun] (of people) doing the same thing or going to the same place often
    • regular readers/customers/users
    • She is a regular contributor to many journals and magazines
    • regular offenders (= against the law)
    • He was a regular visitor to her house.
    Extra Examples
    • The parents are not regular churchgoers.
    • They have been regular customers for many years.
    • Her views on the subject will be familiar to regular readers of the paper.
    • Regular smokers also drink more alcohol than non-smokers.
    • Many of them were regular users of heroin.
    • He became a regular visitor to Hamilton Road.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    • become
    • …
    adverb
    • very
    • fairly
    • pretty
    • …
    phrases
    • at regular intervals
    • on a regular basis
    See full entry
    4.

    grammar

  4.  
     (especially of verbs or nouns) changing their form in the same way as most other verbs and nouns
    • The past participle of regular verbs ends in ‘-ed’.
    opposite irregularTopics Languagea2

    5. usual

  5.  
     [only before noun] usual
    • I couldn't see my regular doctor today.
    • On Monday he would have to return to his regular duties.
    • It's important to follow the regular procedure.
    • He was mistaken for one of the regular crew.
    • the last match of the regular season
    6.

    standard size

  6.  
     (especially North American English) of a standard size
    • Regular or large fries?
    7.

    ordinary

  7.  
     [only before noun] (especially North American English) ordinary; without any special or extra features
    • Do you want regular or diet cola?
    • I just want to buy a regular white shirt—nothing fancy.
    • (approving) He's just a regular guy who loves his dog.
    Extra Examples
    • He's a pretty regular guy.
    • She comes from a perfectly regular middle-class family.
    • The other bag had my regular clothes in it.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • seem
    adverb
    • fairly
    • pretty
    • perfectly
    • …
    See full entry
    8.

    even

  8.  
     having an even shape
    • a face with regular features
    • He flashed a smile, showing two rows of white, regular teeth.
    • Her face was perfectly regular.
    opposite irregular
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    adverb
    • highly
    • very
    • perfectly
    • …
    See full entry
    9.

    permanent

  9.  
     lasting or happening over a long period
    • The need to earn a regular income restricted the time he could spend pursuing his real interests.
    • She couldn't find any regular employment.
    Extra Examples
    • I needed to get a regular job.
    • I decided to give up the freelance work and concentrate on my regular job.
    10.

    soldier

  10. [only before noun] belonging to or connected with the permanent armed forces or police force of a country
    • the regular army
    • regular soldiers
    opposite irregular

    11. for emphasis

  11. (informal) used for emphasis to show that somebody/something is an exact or clear example of the thing mentioned
    • The whole thing was a regular disaster.
    12. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French reguler, from Latin regularis, from regula ‘rule’.
See regular in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee regular in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: regular

Nearby words

sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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