# often (temporal)

many instances where a pattern recurs over time

- Computed level: L2 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: frequency  ·  Arena: language

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [regular](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-regular.frequency), [time](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-time.dimension), [pattern](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-pattern.regularity), [repeats](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-repeats.action)

**Through:** a pattern regularity persists through time, repeating via regular frequency to produce multiple occurrences.

**Novel properties:**
- temporal recurrence
- repeated pattern instances
- frequency over time

## Examples
- The International Space Station requires reboosts every few weeks to counteract atmospheric drag and maintain orbit. *(engineering)*
- Monarch butterflies migrate every autumn from North America to central Mexico, covering up to 3,000 miles. *(biology)*
- The Linux kernel receives new patch releases every few months, often fixing security flaws and driver issues. *(computing)*

## Used by
- [holiday](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-holiday.leisure) (L8)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-often.temporal*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-often.temporal.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*