off and on
adverb
: with periodic cessation : intermittently
rained off and on all day
off-and-on
adjective
They have an off-and-on relationship.
off-and-on work
Examples of off and on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The far-right politician is suddenly distancing himself from an American president who, off and on over the last year, has made aggressive plays to annex Greenland, targeting Danish borders that have existed for roughly 300 years.
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Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Sporadic rain Friday will turn to freezing rain and ice around midnight that will continue off and on until Sunday morning.
—Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the front, light showers are expected off and on through the afternoon, becoming more widespread and heavier Friday night.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
The dispute over Greenland is ultimately a North American dispute, and its logic is rooted firmly in the Monroe Doctrine, which has been guiding American policy off and on since 1823.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
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Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Sporadic rain Friday will turn to freezing rain and ice around midnight that will continue off and on until Sunday morning.
—Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the front, light showers are expected off and on through the afternoon, becoming more widespread and heavier Friday night.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
The dispute over Greenland is ultimately a North American dispute, and its logic is rooted firmly in the Monroe Doctrine, which has been guiding American policy off and on since 1823.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20and%20on. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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