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
They were married the year after and chronicled their lives off and on between 2019 and 2024, when Richards appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
—
Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 17 July 2025
Aitkens spent six to eight months, off and on, helping transcribe the Michigan lake data index cards, beginning in the winter of 2022-23.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Another way of disrupting spyware is to turn your iPhone off and on again.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun rolling back its shoes-off policy at security checkpoints, this ability to whip them off and on in seconds is still majorly convenient for travel.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 17 July 2025
Aitkens spent six to eight months, off and on, helping transcribe the Michigan lake data index cards, beginning in the winter of 2022-23.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Another way of disrupting spyware is to turn your iPhone off and on again.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun rolling back its shoes-off policy at security checkpoints, this ability to whip them off and on in seconds is still majorly convenient for travel.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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These nags appear sporadically and can’t be stopped.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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People who work out sporadically are more likely to suffer setbacks.—
Fred Sassani,
Austin American Statesman,
24 July 2025
Adverb
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Of course, organizations can rely too heavily on AI automation, which could result in false positives and negatives if there is no one in the control booth double-checking the work periodically.—
Atal Bansal,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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The upper floors of the building sat for decades vacant except for squatters who periodically broke in.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
19 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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In most cases, these kinds of spaces are rarely majority women, FoundHer House co-founders Miki Safronov-Yamamoto, 18, and Anantika Mannby, 21, told USA TODAY.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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While the numbers are high, the cases are rarely substantiated.—
Melissa Brown,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Here is what to keep an eye out for as the Premier League makes its return. Champions at a canter last time out, Liverpool have embarked on the kind of spending spree the most dominant teams in the Premier League seldom indulge in.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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While unsightly, mildews and leaf spots will seldom kill annuals; however, blight and root rot are frequently the demise of the plant.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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