as in on and off
not constantly or steadily over a period of time
They've been dating off and on for almost a year.
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Recent Examples of off and on
Sometimes, toggling Bluetooth off and on again would work, sometimes not.
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Simon Hill, WIRED, 12 Aug. 2024
The smartphone security advice from the National Security Agency to turn it off and on again every week just won’t go away.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
However, the National Security Agency recommends powering off and on your smartphone every week to protect yourself from cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2024
The Bears have been searching for The Guy at quarterback, off and on, since Sid Luckman hung up his high tops in the dawn of the Baby Boomer age.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for off and on 
Simon Hill, WIRED, 12 Aug. 2024
The smartphone security advice from the National Security Agency to turn it off and on again every week just won’t go away.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
However, the National Security Agency recommends powering off and on your smartphone every week to protect yourself from cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2024
The Bears have been searching for The Guy at quarterback, off and on, since Sid Luckman hung up his high tops in the dawn of the Baby Boomer age.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the IRS non-filer program had run sporadically since 2016.Eamon Javers, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
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Playing the waiting game too long with someone who has shown flashes of brilliance so sporadically will come to bite you in the end.Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Monday Night Football Odds Pro football odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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During periods where a flare-up is not occurring, the virus isn't usually transmissible, although asymptomatic shedding can occur periodically in both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections, even in people who have no visible outbreaks.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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This stands in contrast to mid-market private equity transactions, where minority investors rarely face personal guarantees.Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Here’s How to See Them Next Time On May 10 and 11, an unusually strong geomagnetic storm allowed people around the world to view the northern lights at latitudes where they’re rarely seen, from Florida to Spain.Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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Treatment is seldom needed, however, practicing good sanitation is recommended to reduce spores in the landscape.Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
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While these strikes aim to disrupt the military capabilities of hostile forces, Israeli officials seldom comment on specific operations, maintaining a policy of ambiguity regarding their actions.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near off and on
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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