: 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
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.
Temperatures are currently expected to rise into the low 90s, with on-again, off-again precipitation. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 The on-air reporter and Kansas City Chiefs tight end began dating in 2017 and were in an on-again, off-again relationship for five years. Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 12 Sep. 2025 However, the very first question—and for any space reporter, the obvious one—concerned NASA's on-again, off-again plan to return rocks from the surface of Mars for study on Earth. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025 Despite their on-again, off-again relationship, Taylor and Dakota welcomed their son Ever in March 2024. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Since then, the pair have engaged in a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship that has been the focus of many of Paul's storylines on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025 Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs have made that pinning down the exact start of his trade war a bit tricky. Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025 Dun and Ryan's relationship was on-again, off-again for some time. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Peters and Roberts were on-again, off-again from 2012 to 2019. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of on-again, off-again was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“On-again, off-again.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on-again%2C%20off-again. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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