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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of off and on
Instead of turning it off and on, consider reducing the temperature by a few degrees.
—
Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2024
This comes on the heels of reports of drones that loitered over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia off and on for nearly two weeks.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2024
Lake-effect snow has been hitting Buffalo throughout the holiday weekend with is expected to continue off and on through Sunday night, with temperatures just below freezing.
—Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2024
Doute soon became one of the show’s stars and main driver of plot lines, from her bid to prove her ex, Tom Sandoval, was a cheater, to her precarious employment at SUR and off and on friendships with costars Stassi Schroeder and Katie Maloney.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for off and on 
Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2024
This comes on the heels of reports of drones that loitered over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia off and on for nearly two weeks.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2024
Lake-effect snow has been hitting Buffalo throughout the holiday weekend with is expected to continue off and on through Sunday night, with temperatures just below freezing.
—Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2024
Doute soon became one of the show’s stars and main driver of plot lines, from her bid to prove her ex, Tom Sandoval, was a cheater, to her precarious employment at SUR and off and on friendships with costars Stassi Schroeder and Katie Maloney.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for off and on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on
Adverb
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Hardly any sleep, eating sporadically, always a wary eye on the weather, but in this case you’re surrounded by water with nobody around for possibly hundreds of miles.—
George Allen,
Robb Report,
15 Jan. 2025
-
The reptile wiggles its feet back and forth sporadically.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
14 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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Long ago, Southern California’s scrub-forest ecosystems would periodically burn, limiting fuel for future fires.—
Justin Angle,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
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Since that time, attempts to overturn Wong Kim Ark have arisen periodically.—
Rachel E. Rosenbloom / Made by History,
TIME,
15 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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The problem is that overachievers are rarely the ones who push back.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Lately, though, red meat rarely appears on my plate.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appétit,
15 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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How seldom the original vision is preserved, how many egos — often with the best of intentions — conspire to distort it.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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There are also some revealing looks with bare midriffs and cutouts, styles seldom associated with Penney’s.—
David Moin,
WWD,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near off and on
Cite this Entry
“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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