: 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.
Meganne Young played Rachel, Lee’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026 The deal closing suggests an end to an on-again, off-again battle, removing a sticking point in US-China relations at a time when tensions are running high. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026 The Hulu drama series stars Grace Van Patten as Lucy Albright and Jackson White as Stephen DeMarco, in a volatile on-again, off-again relationship. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026 Beckerink and Tracey’s parents had spent much of that time in court over custody of Tracey’s remains, the timing of her funeral, and an earlier domestic violence case brought in Michigan that also stemmed from the on-again, off-again relationship between Tracey, 36, and Beckerink, 47. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 Glaser told The Howard Stern Show in 2024 abot the on-again, off-again nature of their relationship. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 11 Jan. 2026 As for the on-again, off-again nature of their relationship? Emma Banks, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026 According to the complaint, Rivera had repeatedly expressed concerns to supervisors about Baker’s behavior and ended a two-year on-again, off-again romantic relationship with him shortly before the shooting. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025 Darkside, Nothing Darkside — an on-again, off-again collaboration between singer-songwriter and electronic producer Nicolás Jaar and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington — expanded into a trio in the 2020s. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 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 31 Jan. 2026.

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