as in on and off
not constantly or steadily over a period of time
They've been dating off and on for almost a year.
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Recent Examples of off and on
The far-right politician is suddenly distancing himself from an American president who, off and on over the last year, has made aggressive plays to annex Greenland, targeting Danish borders that have existed for roughly 300 years.
—
Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Sporadic rain Friday will turn to freezing rain and ice around midnight that will continue off and on until Sunday morning.
—Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The dispute over Greenland is ultimately a North American dispute, and its logic is rooted firmly in the Monroe Doctrine, which has been guiding American policy off and on since 1823.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the front, light showers are expected off and on through the afternoon, becoming more widespread and heavier Friday night.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Sporadic rain Friday will turn to freezing rain and ice around midnight that will continue off and on until Sunday morning.
—Brandon Miller, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The dispute over Greenland is ultimately a North American dispute, and its logic is rooted firmly in the Monroe Doctrine, which has been guiding American policy off and on since 1823.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the front, light showers are expected off and on through the afternoon, becoming more widespread and heavier Friday night.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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For a studio that once made sequels only sporadically, these box-office grosses have raised questions about the viability of original Pixar stories going forward.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Human cases have been sporadically reported in people who have recently traveled outside of the United States.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The union staff organized last spring and have been negotiating their first contract with management intermittently since September.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
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He’s developed in that time into a key leader in the locker room and has served intermittently as a team captain.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Rodriguez Gutierrez was under a supervisory order and required to periodically check in with an immigration officer or face deportation for failing to report, according to De Bremaeker.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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They should be cleaned periodically and replaced every one to two years.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Fortune rarely smiles twice on the same backside.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission already has the power to investigate schools and enforce students’ rights, but it’s rarely used for that end.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Skimping on seed seldom saves money in the long run.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
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Trish said her mother did not talk to her much—Anna was very private, telling Trish what to do, but seldom why.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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