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 vigil, which sometimes grew into collective protests, continued off and on until March 6.
—
Danielle Wirsansky, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
He was involved off and on with Joplin over the second half of the 1960s, two young hippies whose careers and temperaments drove them apart.
—Hillel Italie, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
He was involved off and on with Joplin over the second half of the 1960s, two young hippies whose careers and temperaments drove them apart.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Jackson had been homeless off and on for only about a year before being slain, his family says.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Danielle Wirsansky, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
He was involved off and on with Joplin over the second half of the 1960s, two young hippies whose careers and temperaments drove them apart.
—Hillel Italie, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
He was involved off and on with Joplin over the second half of the 1960s, two young hippies whose careers and temperaments drove them apart.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Jackson had been homeless off and on for only about a year before being slain, his family says.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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For months, Russians have complained that Telegram was working slower and more sporadically, and this week users began reporting a major slowdown.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
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The aurora borealis could sporadically appear post-peak and during summertime, when polar regions are experiencing the midnight sun.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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This dual-sensor setup improves tracking of low-observable or intermittently emitting targets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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Gore’s potential, intermittently tapped, ranks among the game’s elite lefties.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 25,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The two bodies established diplomatic ties in 1993 but have periodically faced tensions over access to holy sites and the treatment of Christian communities.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
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The crew will periodically close lanes, but the intersection and the traffic lights should remain on and open.—
Elle Meyers,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The women, undefeated in 38 games and rarely challenged, earned their inevitable place at table with a 70-52 victory.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
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The imaging revealed some thickening in my breast tissue, which can indicate anything from an infection or cyst to (rarely) cancer.—
Jillian Wager,
Glamour,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Every bite should count Wiseman says patients seldom get nutritional guidance from their doctors, and the drugs alone do not make for a quick or lasting fix without also changing eating patterns for the healthier.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2026
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This group felt close around each other, but the play on the court was seldom so cohesive.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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