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
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
Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island, has been dazzling residents and visitors with an on-and-off eruption that periodically sends fountains of lava soaring into the sky.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Airlines have been grappling with airspace closures for years, including from on-and-off conflict in the Middle East and since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, that have left a large swath of airspace out of use for many carriers.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The couple's on-and-off romance lasted five years, ending in 1994.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
After Honey, Robyn broke up with her on-and-off partner of more than a decade and then had a son through IVF.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Their on-and-off relationship ended for good in April 2025, according to People.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
According to the weather service, Boise can expect on-and-off rain showers during the week as temperatures and wind speeds fluctuate.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2026
Nine Months of ‘Baby’ and ‘Rob’ Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, who were together on-and-off between 2016 and 2021, welcomed their two kids — True, 7, and Tatum, 3 — in 2018 and 2022, respectively, according to People.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
But this year's festival got off to a wet start, with on-and-off showers throughout the morning.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island, has been dazzling residents and visitors with an on-and-off eruption that periodically sends fountains of lava soaring into the sky.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Airlines have been grappling with airspace closures for years, including from on-and-off conflict in the Middle East and since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, that have left a large swath of airspace out of use for many carriers.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The couple's on-and-off romance lasted five years, ending in 1994.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
After Honey, Robyn broke up with her on-and-off partner of more than a decade and then had a son through IVF.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Their on-and-off relationship ended for good in April 2025, according to People.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
According to the weather service, Boise can expect on-and-off rain showers during the week as temperatures and wind speeds fluctuate.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2026
Nine Months of ‘Baby’ and ‘Rob’ Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, who were together on-and-off between 2016 and 2021, welcomed their two kids — True, 7, and Tatum, 3 — in 2018 and 2022, respectively, according to People.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
Adverb
-
Pittsburgh may be dry all day long, but places north of Pittsburgh should see a wintry mix off and on in the morning and afternoon.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
12 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
Adjective
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Their 2024-25 showcased a recurrent theme at Anfield, whereby transfer spending waned.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In-lab sleep tests can identify the cause of abnormal behaviors that happen while someone is sleeping like recurrent nightmares, sleepwalking and more.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Airspace was completely closed at the start of the war and the disruption has continued sporadically since then; ticket prices have soared worldwide — a reflection of the importance of the Gulf as an air travel hub — and passengers report that missile alerts continue to cause delays.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
16 Mar. 2026
-
However, rain has occurred only sporadically since the military attacks began in Iran.—
Armin Sorooshian,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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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.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Agents in tactical gear carrying long guns ran intermittently toward the facility before officials determined there was no longer an imminent threat.—
Dave Boucher,
Freep.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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He was originally admitted in fall 2007 as a freshman and was enrolled, intermittently, through spring 2013.—
Alan G. Breed,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
To put this in a more formal way, every seven years would begin a new periodic cycle.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The phrasing is flat, declarative, and uninterested in anecdote; taken together, the dicta sketch a profile that is periodic, age-linked, and seasonal.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The county’s list of capital projects is updated periodically throughout the year as projects go on and projected costs change, the county spokesperson said, but the overall amount of capital spending for the year will stay the same.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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The claim Influencers say parasitic infestations — especially of the gut — are common and that people should take measures to clear them out periodically.—
Sarah Boden,
NPR,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some district schools and offices experienced intermittent power outages throughout the day, including Marriott's Ridge High School, which lost power for about 30 minutes during the school day.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The latest to be published looks at whether intermittent fasting — a practice of limiting eating to only a few hours each day — is an effective way to lose weight.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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