Basic Details
Word: Seldom
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Not often; only once in a while.
Synonyms: rarely, hardly ever, infrequently
Antonyms: often, frequently, usually
How to Spell Seldom
Syllables: sel - dom
Tricky part: The second syllable is weak, so it is often written seldum or seldem. It ends in -dom, and there is only one l.
Watch out for: seldum, seldem, selldom
Memory tip: Seldom ends in -dom, like kingdom and freedom. You seldom meet a king in his kingdom.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our neighbour is a quiet man who seldom leaves his house before noon.
Example 2: Buses seldom run on time when the roads are flooded.
Example 3: My little sister is seldom ill, but she caught a cold during the monsoon.
Fun Fact
Seldom can begin a sentence with the verb moved in front of the subject, as in Seldom have I seen such rain. Never and rarely work the same way.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word seldom as used in the sentence:
It seldom snows in Chennai, even in the coldest week of January.
a) hardly
b) often
c) scarcely
d) rarely
Show answer
b) often. Rarely, hardly and scarcely all say the same as seldom; often says the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. frequantly 2. ussually 3. seldom 4. occasionaly
a) in the normal way, most of the time
b) now and then
c) many times
d) not often
Show answer
d) not often. Three of the adverbs have a letter problem (occasionally needs two l's, frequently an e, usually one s); seldom is fine.
Mingle-Mangle
The jumbled word in the sentence hides a real word. Choose it:
My grandfather mlesdo watches television; he prefers his radio.
a) seldom
b) seemed
c) models
d) soldier
Show answer
a) seldom. Models uses the same six letters, but only seldom makes sense before watches television.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A boy who seldom misses school ____.
a) is absent most days
b) changes school often
c) never goes to school
d) is almost always present
Show answer
d) is almost always present
2. Which word has the same ending as seldom?
a) wisdom
b) custom
c) venom
d) ransom
Show answer
a) wisdom
