on and off 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of on and offnext
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

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Dissimilar Words

on-and-off

2 of 2

adjective

as in recurrent
occurring or appearing at intervals an on-and-off friendship over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 on and off
Adjective
Braxton and the 57-year-old rapper were engaged toward the end of the 2010s and on-and-off in the ensuing years, only to get back together in late 2023. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 She’s previously dated in the public eye Prior to meeting Mendes, Marquezine was in an on-and-off relationship with Brazilian soccer star Neymar from 2013 until 2018, per E! — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Lollapalooza attendees were met with on-and-off sprinkling all day but about 45 minutes into the Smashing Pumpkins' set, a consistent enough rainfall led fans to pull on ponchos, with some even leaving early. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 Since the 1920s, populations have shown signs of decline on-and-off. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Styles and Swift dated on-and-off until 2013, when their breakup inspired several songs on Swift’s 1989. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026 An economist at advisory firm Oxford Economics said the ceasefire probably would continue to be on-and-off and Washington and Tehran could still deescalate the latest tensions instead of returning to war. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 What’s more, the sneakers are machine washable for easy cleaning and have a pull tab for effortless on-and-off. — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 Officials said Friday that a group of 50 volunteers had joined the effort to look for Kinney along the banks of the lake, adding that on-and-off rain hindered the search, according to WSAZ. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
  1. off and on
  2. recurrent
  3. sporadically
  4. recurring
  5. intermittently
  6. periodic
  7. periodically
  8. intermittent
Adverb
  • The character was originated in 2009 by Nathan Dean, who played him off and on through 2020, and returned in April for a three-month stint on the soap.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Robertson Property Group has been conducting renovations in the theater off and on for the past several years, but there is currently no prospective opening date.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 21 July 2026
Definition of off and on
Adjective
  • Joan Baez, yet another famous fan, emerges as one of the diary’s recurrent characters, and a kind of guiding spirit for this metamorphosis.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026
  • People with recurrent kidney stones or kidney disease should be more cautious, especially with strong black tea, and follow their healthcare provider’s advice on fluids, sodium, calcium, and diet.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of recurrent
Adverb
  • The new couple—who were first linked after reportedly meeting at Tribeca Film Festival—have been spotted sporadically over the last few months.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026
  • My 21-year-old child responds only sporadically to texts and phone calls, going days to weeks without a response.
    — Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sporadically
Adjective
  • Excluding non-recurring events, the magnitude of the average S & P 500 earnings surprise for the quarter is still about 11%.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • 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.
    — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Definition of recurring
Adverb
  • Storms and showers could continue intermittently through Friday night, according to the weather services’ seven-day forecast.
    — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Here was a way to inhabit the dark enfilades and flood them at least intermittently with light.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of intermittently
Adjective
  • This meteor shower is known for being plentiful and is part of the debris stream of the periodic comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the Sun.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After methodically growing its business over nearly three decades and doing periodic tuck-in acquisitions, Lionsgate has assembled 20,000 film and TV titles in its library, which topped $1 billion in revenue in the most recent fiscal year.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of periodic
Adverb
  • Fires are often started illegally by plantation owners or traditional farmers to clear land for planting, and those burns periodically blanket parts of Southeast Asia in hazardous haze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The transit agency periodically adjusts its schedule to improve reliability, enhance connections and respond to rider feedback, RT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez said.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of periodically
Adjective
  • Service has been intermittent and has shut off for full days and multiple days at a time.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The systems use lithium-ion or other battery cells and help data centers and utilities avoid blackouts, allowing for energy storage from all sources, including fossil fuels and renewable and intermittent sources like solar and wind.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of intermittent

Browse Nearby Words

on all hands
on and off
on-and-off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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