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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of off and on
Canada was one of the last countries to pull out of the pandemic, and was on lockdown off and on for two years, much longer than the U.S. and other countries.
—
David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
Henry has acted off and on since his nomination, with credits including 1984's Sixteen Candles, two episodes of ER in 1997 and a 2010 episode of Brothers & Sisters, among other films and TV appearances.
—Diana Pearl, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
The property has been logged off and on since the 1800s.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
Reinhart and Sprouse — who met while playing lovers on-screen on the CW series and dated off and on in real life for nearly three years — made their couple debut on the Gala's red carpet, confirming what fans suspected for some time.
—Tabitha Parent, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
Henry has acted off and on since his nomination, with credits including 1984's Sixteen Candles, two episodes of ER in 1997 and a 2010 episode of Brothers & Sisters, among other films and TV appearances.
—Diana Pearl, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
The property has been logged off and on since the 1800s.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
Reinhart and Sprouse — who met while playing lovers on-screen on the CW series and dated off and on in real life for nearly three years — made their couple debut on the Gala's red carpet, confirming what fans suspected for some time.
—Tabitha Parent, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
-
Mount Etna has been erupting sporadically for centuries.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 June 2025
-
Colson is technically a one but played that position sporadically in her last three seasons in Las Vegas due to their glut of ballhandlers.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Adverb
-
Participants laid on their stomach with their head over a bowl of cold water, periodically plunging their face under while the researchers measured how their reflexive submersion responses changed their heart rate and blood pressure.—
Gayoung Lee,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
-
The bats then wake up periodically, causing irregular activity and eventual starvation.—
Lillian Ali,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 May 2025
Adverb
-
As Qasem Hassan was aware, such views were rarely voiced on Israeli television.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
President Trump is activating the Guard by using powers that have been invoked only rarely.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Adverb
-
There are solid green and variegated cultivars that are drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and seldom bothered by insect pests.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 June 2025
-
The measure has proven durable because its benefits were tangible, and voters seldom surrender benefits.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share