: 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.
My ten-year-old daughter’s iPad has an on-again, off-again relationship with my laptop. Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025 Notably not returning is Camille Razat, who portrayed Gabriel’s on-again, off-again girlfriend since the inception of the series. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025 After many years of on-again, off-again rumors, the tech giant finally opened its doors along Woodward Ave. Brian Manzullo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025 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

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 29 Sep. 2025.

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