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 opened their lives to the world off and on between 2019 and 2024 when Richards appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Generally, fighting cancer is about delivering a relentless attack on the spreading disease, but a new approach explores the possible benefits of toggling therapy off and on like a light switch, allowing oncologists to more precisely control drug action and potential side effects.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
Rain showers during the day and partly cloudy skies at night are expected off and on this week in Indianapolis with temperatures in the 50s and lows dipping into the 30s.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
In a letter to the school's sponsor in September, Dohn treasurer Michael Ashmore said Capital School Services performed work for Dohn off and on for roughly eight years.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Generally, fighting cancer is about delivering a relentless attack on the spreading disease, but a new approach explores the possible benefits of toggling therapy off and on like a light switch, allowing oncologists to more precisely control drug action and potential side effects.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
Rain showers during the day and partly cloudy skies at night are expected off and on this week in Indianapolis with temperatures in the 50s and lows dipping into the 30s.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
In a letter to the school's sponsor in September, Dohn treasurer Michael Ashmore said Capital School Services performed work for Dohn off and on for roughly eight years.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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Defender Phil Jones, who worked sporadically as a coach with United’s under-18s for free for 18 months, is set to leave to pursue a senior assistant role at another club.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
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While the mustachioed plumber and his brother became the face of the brand, Donkey Kong appears more sporadically — wavering occasionally between a hero and villain — and doesn’t even have a consistent lore.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
Adverb
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Russia has periodically run out of missiles especially during the first year of the war.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Hartfield also raises his own cattle and sells them periodically at stock yards throughout the state.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
12 July 2025
Adverb
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That first impulse to vent or demand immediate action is rarely your friend.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Roller coasters and senior citizens are rarely a good match.—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
Adverb
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It’s also seldom thought about, out of sight, and as a result, it’s never cleaned.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
1 Aug. 2025
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And with one little comment comes an element of playfulness seldom seen inside Project Runway’s deliberations, leaving room for the idea that sometimes cool girls might be OK with looking like a couch cushion in the back if the front is the moment!—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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