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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of off and on
One of the victims was the son of the house owner and lived in the garage off and on.
—
Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
Tariffs have been used by the U.S. government off and on since the late 1700s.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2025
Patchy, blowing snow could continue off and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Add in overlapping affairs with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and radical activist Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning’s take on the real-life Suze Rotolo), the singular artist finds himself at multiple crossroads off and on the stage, culminating in his genre-defining decision to go electric.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025
Tariffs have been used by the U.S. government off and on since the late 1700s.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2025
Patchy, blowing snow could continue off and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Add in overlapping affairs with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and radical activist Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning’s take on the real-life Suze Rotolo), the singular artist finds himself at multiple crossroads off and on the stage, culminating in his genre-defining decision to go electric.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
-
Though Mindy only appears sporadically in the first 10 episodes, there’s a good chance viewers will see more of her, should Hulu renew Mid-Century Modern for a second season.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Baldwin, who works as a program manager for a nonprofit that holds classes and workshops for seniors, gets small raises sporadically and hasn’t received a bump in two years.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Odds and futures refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Proposals to change the 1990 law have surfaced periodically over the years and have spurred lobbying fights.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Dental experts warn that the simultaneous erosion of Medicaid and fluoridation could exacerbate a crisis of rural oral health and reverse decades of progress against tooth decay, particularly for children and those who rarely see a dentist.—
Brett Kelman,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The best ideas rarely appear from staring at a screen.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Panic selling is seldom based on rational analysis; rather, it is typically triggered by fear, uncertainty, and a herd mentality.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Graham and Tandy are seldom part of scenes where their characters’ grief is the focus — Marley may as well be an outside investigator with no connection to Rodney.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share