on-again, off-again
adjective
: 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
She was long seen as a rising G.O.P. star but her allure in the party has declined amid her on-again, off-again embrace of Trump.
—
Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2008 to 2009.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2023
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth get engaged After three years as an on-again, off-again couple, Hemsworth proposed to Cyrus in 2012 with a 3.5-carat ring from Neil Lane.
—Diana Pearl, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2023
Among those most invested in securing better coverage on Fox for Trump is Jason Miller, his longtime on-again, off-again spokesman.
—Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Sarah Ellison, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023
During the months of intense uncertainty that followed, Ali stuck with the company, attempting to tune out the deluge of news about the on-again, off-again deal to focus on her health and the health of her child.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 6 Mar. 2023
Also at large is Neda Kapur, an idealistic journalist who has an on-again, off-again affair with Sunny.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2023
She was long seen as a rising G.O.P. star but her allure in the party has declined amid her on-again, off-again embrace of Mr. Trump.
—Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2023
She's defended Hailey in the past, asking her fans to stop attacking the woman Justin married in September 2018 following the final off in their on-again, off-again relationship in spring of that year.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2023
Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2008 to 2009.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2023
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth get engaged After three years as an on-again, off-again couple, Hemsworth proposed to Cyrus in 2012 with a 3.5-carat ring from Neil Lane.
—Diana Pearl, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2023
Among those most invested in securing better coverage on Fox for Trump is Jason Miller, his longtime on-again, off-again spokesman.
—Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Sarah Ellison, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023
During the months of intense uncertainty that followed, Ali stuck with the company, attempting to tune out the deluge of news about the on-again, off-again deal to focus on her health and the health of her child.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 6 Mar. 2023
Also at large is Neda Kapur, an idealistic journalist who has an on-again, off-again affair with Sunny.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2023
She was long seen as a rising G.O.P. star but her allure in the party has declined amid her on-again, off-again embrace of Mr. Trump.
—Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2023
She's defended Hailey in the past, asking her fans to stop attacking the woman Justin married in September 2018 following the final off in their on-again, off-again relationship in spring of that year.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on-again, off-again.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Dictionary Entries Near on-again, off-again
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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