OFF AND ON Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

off and on

adverb

Definition of off and on

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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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 off and on 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 After all, this hip has bothered him off and on since the 2021 season. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Pharis continued to get minor rashes, off and on, for the next four years. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Northern Minnesota will see thunderstorms off and on throughout the day. — Mike Augustyniak, CBS News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for off and on

Recent Examples of Synonyms for off and on

Adverb

Amid the heat wave, thousands of Southland residents were sporadically without power as outages popped up in different communities.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Smith was athletic enough to play all over the field and run track in high school and sporadically practiced with defensive backs in his two years at Georgia.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of sporadically

Adverb

The company said Riley was hired in 2008 and worked there intermittently for a total of slightly more than four and a half years.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
In This Article Maintaining a beautiful lawn and garden often means keeping an eye on and managing pesky weeds that crop up intermittently.

— Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of intermittently

Adverb

Churches, neighborhoods, nonprofits, businesses, utilities and government should periodically engage in preparedness exercises so everyone understands their role.

— Freida Graves, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Credit line reviews typically follow monthly or quarterly cycles; attrition models are refreshed periodically and applied in batch.

— Julie Conroy, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of periodically

Adverb

Strong El Niño events, such as the one revving up in the tropical Pacific, have rarely spared the Golden State from significant and damaging consequences.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Fast forward almost a year and lawmakers rarely reference the topic anymore.

— Ali Swenson, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of rarely

Adverb

However, he was seldom used at Georgia Tech in 2025, totaling only eight catches for 150 yards.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Older women have seldom been included in randomized trials that evaluate the benefits of mammography screening on morbidity and mortality.

— Kim Johnson, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of seldom

Browse Nearby Words

offal

off and on

off base

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“Off and on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off%20and%20on. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of off and on

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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