on-again, off-again

adjective

ˈȯn-ə-ˈgen-ˈȯf-ə-ˈgen 

: existing briefly and in an intermittent unpredictable way

on-again, off-again fads

Examples of on-again, off-again in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As Fallon’s on-again, off-again lover and eventual husband Jeff, John James took the character from Dynasty to The Colbys before returning to the mothership series after the spinoff was cancelled following two seasons. — Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Aug. 2026

According to a police report obtained by ABC News, Panettiere was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, at the time of her death. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Hayden Panettiere‘s on-again, off-again boyfriend, who was with her at the time of her death in South Carolina over the weekend, has released a statement reiterating that police have said there was no foul play suspected. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

The director then commented that people had been asking him about Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who joined her on set. — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for on-again, off-again

• again
• airmen
• amen
• bullpen
• culmen
• flagmen
• gunmen
• lawmen
• oilmen
• playpen
• schoolmen
• tegmen