as in off and on
not constantly or steadily over a period of time
It's been raining on and off all afternoon.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals
an on-and-off friendship over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of on and off
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 June 2026
The two had an on-and-off relationship and were making out at the end of season nine.
—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Batula was previously married to Wilson’s friend, Kyle Cooke, while Wilson had an on-and-off relationship with Batula’s best friend, Ciara Miller.
—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
10 June 2026
The top features a button keyhole opening for extra breathability, while the shorts have deep pockets and an elastic waistband with a drawstring for a custom fit and easy on-and-off at the pool.
—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
The pair, who welcomed a son together in November 2025, appear to have had an on-and-off relationship in recent months.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The weather service said on-and-off rounds of showers and storms are expected through the weekend.
—
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Trump returned Friday to his on-and-off demand for the removal of the cache as part of a deal.
—
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2026
Trump returned Friday to his on-and-off demand for the removal of the cache as part of a deal.
—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
Further complicating matters, Wilson was in an on-and-off relationship with Summer House's Ciara Miller, one of Batula's closest friends.
—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 June 2026
The two had an on-and-off relationship and were making out at the end of season nine.
—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Batula was previously married to Wilson’s friend, Kyle Cooke, while Wilson had an on-and-off relationship with Batula’s best friend, Ciara Miller.
—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
10 June 2026
The top features a button keyhole opening for extra breathability, while the shorts have deep pockets and an elastic waistband with a drawstring for a custom fit and easy on-and-off at the pool.
—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
The pair, who welcomed a son together in November 2025, appear to have had an on-and-off relationship in recent months.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The weather service said on-and-off rounds of showers and storms are expected through the weekend.
—
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Trump returned Friday to his on-and-off demand for the removal of the cache as part of a deal.
—
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2026
Trump returned Friday to his on-and-off demand for the removal of the cache as part of a deal.
—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
Adverb
-
Amazon’s streaming service, Prime Video, is the most chaotic major company out there, seemingly random in its assembly of new and classic titles that shuffle off and on the platform every month.
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The geese had been there off and on for days.
Adjective
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In a study testing this theory using 212 recurrent dream reports, 66% contained at least one threat and dreamers typically responded with defensive or evasive behavior.
-
The criteria include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, having unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, emotional instability, paranoia or dissociation under stress, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm.
Adverb
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But in a roughly 30-minute interview, Nunn invoked the president only sporadically and called himself one of the most bipartisan members of Congress.
-
Flowers first appear in spring and then sporadically through summer and fall.
Adjective
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The Bell Street Bridge encampment was prioritized for closure as part of Downtown Rising – the first phase of Atlanta Rising, a multi-year campaign launched in 2025 to end unsheltered homelessness citywide and make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
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This was and is a non-recurring, cyclical business totally dependent on transaction volumes, which fluctuate with economic cycles and interest rates.
Adverb
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Rosana Rodriguez, 33rd, whose office is in contact with Martinez-Sifontes’ family, said Albany Park has recently seen fewer ICE encounters than during earlier phases of Operation Midway Blitz, but said enforcement activity still surfaces intermittently.
-
They are only intermittently given distinguishing characteristics or classifications.
Adjective
-
Curtis Robinson has had periodic usage as well.
-
With some mathematical wizardry, the researchers described a periodic surface whose elements capture discrete components of polarized wavefronts.
Adverb
-
Leave earbuds at home and make noise periodically so bears can avoid you.
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The survey will also point it at our own galaxy periodically to monitor hundreds of millions of stars.
Adjective
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After just under two hours of intermittent rain, the tarp came out and the game was suspended.
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The president and his advisers have repeatedly criticized offshore wind as intermittent, unreliable and unsightly.
Cite this Entry
“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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