countless times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'countless times' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that something happened an excessive number of times and cannot be counted. For example: I have watched the movie "Toy Story" countless times.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has retold the story countless times.

The New Yorker

Pearce had watched the clip countless times.

The New York Times - Sports

You've probably heard this advice countless times.

The New York Times - Health

Her relatives said they complained countless times.

The New York Times

& sang the national anthem countless times.

The New Yorker

That is what would happen countless times.

The Guardian

From them, our search branched off countless times.

The New Yorker

"Maybe he wrote," she tells herself countless times each day.

The New York Times

I watched him in that performance countless times".

Independent

I loved his music and saw him play countless times.

The New York Times

That pattern has been repeated countless times over the years.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "countless times" to emphasize the frequency of an event, suggesting it has happened so often that it's impossible or impractical to count. This can add impact to your writing, conveying a sense of persistence or habit.

Common error

While "countless times" is widely understood, it can sound less professional in certain formal settings. Consider alternatives like "on numerous occasions" or "repeatedly" when writing for a business or academic audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "countless times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency of an action. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in English. It tells how often something occurs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "countless times" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the high frequency of an event. As affirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys that something has happened so often as to be difficult or impractical to count. While appropriate for general and news-related contexts, consider more formal alternatives in professional or academic writing. Remember that this phrase, based on examples from Ludwig, highlights the repetitiveness of an action, creating a sense of persistence. While generally acceptable, it can be improved if overused.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

innumerable times

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the inability to count the occurrences.

an infinite number of times

Highlights the limitless repetition, though potentially hyperbolic.

on numerous occasions

A more formal alternative, suitable for professional contexts.

time and time again

Emphasizes the repeated nature of an event.

over and over

A simpler, more informal way to express repetition.

repeatedly

A concise and direct synonym.

again and again

Another simple and common way to express repetition.

any number of times

Similar meaning, but focuses on the potential for repetition more than realized repetition.

incalculable times

Stresses the impossibility of calculating the number of repetitions.

umpteen times

An informal way to indicate a large, indefinite number of repetitions.

FAQs

How can I use "countless times" in a sentence?

You can use "countless times" to describe something that has happened very frequently. For example, "I've told him "countless times" to lock the door".

What are some alternatives to "countless times"?

Some alternatives include "innumerable times", "on numerous occasions", and "repeatedly". The best choice depends on the context and level of formality.

Is "countless times" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "countless times" might be too informal for some formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "on numerous occasions" or "repeatedly" in such cases.

What does "countless times" emphasize in a sentence?

"Countless times" emphasizes the high frequency and potentially tedious repetition of an action or event. It suggests the action has happened so often that it is difficult or impossible to enumerate.