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

Dissent before the deal The pace of the negotiations, which had been on-again, off-again for weeks, quickened last week, and Bonta’s office had reached a deal with Paramount by Friday, sources said. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs have reduced markets for many of Iowa’s agricultural goods, while the Iran war has driven up the costs of diesel fuel and fertilizer. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Carpenter also appeared in The Expendables (2010) and The Expendables 2 (2012) as Lacy, the on-again, off-again girlfriend of Jason Statham‘s Lee Christmas in the action films. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, directly addressed her death for the first time, a month after her tragic passing. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 17 Sep. 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