Quarterly
/ˈkwɔːrtərli/
Definitions
2 meaningsOccurring or appearing four times a year; every three months.
/ˈkwɔːrtərli/
Happening every three months
The magazine publishes its articles on a quarterly basis.
💡 Simply: Imagine the year is like a pizza cut into four slices (quarters). Something that happens 'quarterly' happens every time you eat a slice of pizza! For example, your mom might pay the bills quarterly.
👶 For kids: Happening every three months, like a special event!
More Examples
The quarterly meetings are crucial for strategic planning.
We receive quarterly updates on the project's progress.
How It's Used
"The company's quarterly reports detail their financial performance."
"Investors review quarterly earnings to assess the company's health."
At intervals of three months; every quarter of a year.
/ˈkwɔːrtərli/
Every three months
The company reviews its sales quarterly.
💡 Simply: When you pay for something 'quarterly', it means you pay it four times a year, every three months. It's like splitting a year into four parts.
👶 For kids: Happening four times a year!
More Examples
They report their profits quarterly.
The subscription fee is billed quarterly.
How It's Used
"They review their performance quarterly."
"The dividend is paid out quarterly."
From "quarter" + "-ly". "Quarter" comes from Old French "cartier", meaning a fourth part. The suffix "-ly" indicates an adverbial or adjectival relationship.
Historically used in financial and governmental contexts to track performance and economic trends. Early usages date back to the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of the year being divided into four quarters; each quarter is a quarterly period.