as in sometimes
on some occasions
we do go to the library now and then, but not as often as we should
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Recent Examples of now and then
Have a glass of wine now and then.
—
Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Between now and then, the Horns will have plenty of time to figure out how to put together a full 40 minutes of hoops.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026
Changing your air filters regularly, keeping your vents clear of dust and debris, and getting a professional tune-up every now and then can make all the difference in your HVAC system’s performance and overall home heating.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Sleep will vary from night to night and everyone has a bad night of sleep now and then, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for now and then
Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Between now and then, the Horns will have plenty of time to figure out how to put together a full 40 minutes of hoops.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026
Changing your air filters regularly, keeping your vents clear of dust and debris, and getting a professional tune-up every now and then can make all the difference in your HVAC system’s performance and overall home heating.
—Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026
Sleep will vary from night to night and everyone has a bad night of sleep now and then, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for now and then
Recent Examples of Synonyms for now and then
Adverb
-
Mountbatten-Windsor's name appears at least several hundred times in the documents, sometimes in news clippings, sometimes in Epstein's private email correspondence and in guest lists for dinners organized by Epstein.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Hospitals have used what are sometimes called blackout procedures, which can include registering a patient under a pseudonym, removing their name from the hospital directory, or prohibiting staff from even confirming that a patient is in the hospital.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Cook, stirring occasionally, until all the mushrooms are nicely browned and have started to leave a little fond (the brown, sticky parts where a lot of the flavor is) on the bottom of the pot, another 5 to 6 minutes.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
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Add shrimp to simmering water in saucepan; cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked and fully opaque, about 2 minutes.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Now and then.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/now%20and%20then. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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