on and off 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of on and offnext
as in off and on
not constantly or steadily over a period of time It's been raining on and off all afternoon.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

on-and-off

2 of 2

adjective

as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals an on-and-off friendship over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
  1. off and on
  2. recurrent
  3. sporadically
  4. recurring
  5. periodic
  6. periodically
  7. intermittent
  8. occasionally
Adverb
  • Well, how about the advice to turn your smartphone off and on again weekly to prevent or mitigate spear-phishing campaigns to install spyware, malware and/or zero-click exploits for starters.
    Davey Winder, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Instead of turning it off and on, consider reducing the temperature by a few degrees.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of off and on
Adjective
  • On the flip side, having recurrent UTIs can lead to the formation of struvite stones (or infection stones) and may also contribute to the formation of other types of stones.
    Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Viggo Mortensen, one of Alonso’s recurrent collaborators, stars as a father searching for his daughter in the first segment set in the Old West, which cleverly gives way to present-day South Dakota, and eventually to the Brazilian Amazon a few decades in the past.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of recurrent
Adverb
  • While cases of listeriosis are relatively rare, outbreaks of the serious illness occur sporadically and concerns of contamination by the bacteria are a common cause of food product recalls.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Since losing to Trump, Harris has appeared only sporadically in public, accompanying Biden to Arlington Cemetery on Veterans Day, swearing in three new senators, attending White House events and holiday parties.
    Carl Leubsdorf, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of sporadically
Adjective
  • Anxiety about pocketbook issues, however, formed a recurring and persistent theme.
    David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024
  • The company has bolstered its software and securities business to diversify and bring in more recurring subscription revenue.
    Ari Levy, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024
Definition of recurring
Adjective
  • Even small, periodic increases in contributions can significantly enhance the compounding effect over time, leading to a larger retirement nest egg.
    True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • There are periodic reviews to make sure companies are in their appropriate sectors.
    Bob Pisani, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of periodic
Adverb
  • As noted by the IRS, under the user agreement, the rewards were periodically deposited to the taxpayer’s account (following any applicable lockup or waiting period).
    Timothy M. Todd, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • After introducing the tracers at specific locations, the study area is periodically sampled to detect and quantify the tracers' distribution, providing insights into sediment movement over time.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Definition of periodically
Adjective
  • Storing the energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels during peak generation times, storage systems ensure its availability for later use, thus stabilizing the supply and demand of these otherwise intermittent resources.
    George Sakellaris, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Yakutat will experience an additional 2–4 inches of light, fluffy snow by early Sunday, following intermittent lulls Saturday evening.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
Definition of intermittent
Adverb
  • Broadcast and cable outlets have followed suit in that trend, occasionally touting individual shows that perform well (and again including hard-to-verify streaming stats) but rarely offering a window into the bigger picture.
    Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Dec. 2024
  • However, a prison without bars reveals itself early on in writer-director Ivona Juka’s stark and occasionally overzealous black-and-white drama.
    Stephen Saito, Variety, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of occasionally
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near on and off

on-and-off

on and off

on an even keel

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.

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