In a magnetooptical recording method and apparatus the intensity of a laser beam to be radiated onto an over-write capable magnetooptical disk is raised from P.sub.L to an intensity P.sub.H higher than P.sub.L, the intensity is reduced to an intensity P.sub.LT lower than P.sub.H after P.sub.H is maintained for a time T.sub.W1, the laser beam is intensity-modulated at a period T.sub.p between P.sub.LT and an intensity P.sub.W2 higher than P.sub.LT so as to form a mark on the magnetooptical disk by a high-temperature cycle, thereafter, the intensity is reduced to an intensity P.sub.LB lower than P.sub.L, and the intensity is raised to P.sub.L after an elapse of a time T.sub.off. The intensity P.sub.L is selected from an intensity range defined between an upper limit and a lower limit. The upper limit is a laser beam intensity for maintaining a pre-heat state in which a temperature on the magnetooptical disk becomes a predetermined temperature .THETA..sub.pre, and is also an intensity which does not cause the high-temperature cycle. The lower limit is an intensity at which a mark formed by the high-temperature cycle can be erased. At least one of P.sub.L, T.sub.off, and P.sub.LB is controlled to achieve the pre-heat state within a time until the intensity is raised to P.sub.H again. At least one of P.sub.W2, P.sub.LT, and a time T.sub.W2 for maintaining P.sub.W2 is controlled, so that a temperature, after an elapse of T.sub.W1, at a peak temperature position or a spot center position of the laser beam radiated onto the magnetooptical disk surface becomes equal to a temperature after an elapse of T.sub.W2.