: 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.
CEOs were already confronting a period of rapid change thanks to seismic shifts in AI, sustained inflation, and on-again, off-again tariffs, and many are now struggling with how to digest the latest round of developments. Shelly Banjo, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026 The city would serve as his on-again, off-again home base for the next six decades. Terry Nguyen, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026 In the season 5 finale, viewers saw Emily's on-again, off-again romantic interest Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) send a postcard inviting her on a Greek getaway. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 At the heart of the first season was a quasi-love triangle between on-again, off-again Laguna Beach High School couple Stephen Colletti and Kristin Cavallari, and Colletti’s close friend (possibly more), Lauren Conrad. Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 On the iconic teen drama, the duo starred as Kelly Taylor and Dylan McKay, whose on-again, off-again relationship became one of the series' primary story lines. Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026 The video reportedly captures a 2023 domestic violence incident involving the on-again, off-again couple, for which Paul faced charges. Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026 Miller joined the show’s fifth season in 2021 and Wilson arrived two years later in season eight, where their on-again, off-again relationship promptly began. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026 Kelso and Jackie were in an on-again, off-again relationship throughout the series. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026

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 Apr. 2026.

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