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
Their longterm relationship played out, off and on, between 2007 and 2018.
—
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
There were also tributes from founding Beach Boy Al Jardine, and actor John Stamos, who gigged with the group, off and on, for the past four decades.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Flores yelled off and on for about 20 seconds before making his way slowly to first base, accompanied by Padres catcher Elias Díaz and umpire Ryan Wills.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
Combs’ long time, off and on relationship with model and actress Kim Porter resulted in the birth of son Christian in 1998.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
There were also tributes from founding Beach Boy Al Jardine, and actor John Stamos, who gigged with the group, off and on, for the past four decades.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Flores yelled off and on for about 20 seconds before making his way slowly to first base, accompanied by Padres catcher Elias Díaz and umpire Ryan Wills.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025
Combs’ long time, off and on relationship with model and actress Kim Porter resulted in the birth of son Christian in 1998.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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Defender Phil Jones, who worked sporadically as a coach with United’s under-18s for free for 18 months, is set to leave to pursue a senior assistant role at another club.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
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While the mustachioed plumber and his brother became the face of the brand, Donkey Kong appears more sporadically — wavering occasionally between a hero and villain — and doesn’t even have a consistent lore.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
Adverb
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Russia has periodically run out of missiles especially during the first year of the war.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Hartfield also raises his own cattle and sells them periodically at stock yards throughout the state.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
12 July 2025
Adverb
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Roller coasters and senior citizens are rarely a good match.—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
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That first impulse to vent or demand immediate action is rarely your friend.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adverb
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The man was gifted, gracious, often generous and seldom mean-spirited.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
10 July 2025
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Very seldom do any two companies share a vision and culture.—
Ashutosh Labroo,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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