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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for on and off
  1. off and on
  2. recurrent
  3. sporadically
  4. recurring
  5. periodic
  6. periodically
  7. intermittent
  8. occasionally
Adverb
  • Mars has long included headgear in his looks both off and on stage.
    Mikelle Street, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024
  • Boarded up for years, off and on restoration efforts have not been successful.
    Ray Hanley, arkansasonline.com, 16 Sep. 2024
Definition of off and on
Adjective
  • There’s a recurrent overstating of baseball’s significance: the satirist Ring Lardner called it the World Serious.
    Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
  • However, ocular exposure to sulfur mustard can also produce long-term effects, including recurrent inflammation and erosion of the cornea.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
Definition of recurrent
Adverb
  • Other supplements may be used more sporadically, like a protein supplement when your appetite is low.
    Shushy Rita Setrakian MS, RD, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano that came back to life in 1994 after 50 years of dormancy, and has been sporadically erupting ever since, with a notable uptick in activity since 2005.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Definition of sporadically
Adjective
  • Anxiety about pocketbook issues, however, formed a recurring and persistent theme.
    David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024
  • The company has bolstered its software and securities business to diversify and bring in more recurring subscription revenue.
    Ari Levy, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024
Definition of recurring
Adjective
  • The company remains subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • America has periodic eruptions of political unrest, Ellis argued, but none has come close to a civil war.
    Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of periodic
Adverb
  • Small, temporary markdowns, taken periodically throughout the season, may help many retailers maintain profit margins.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
  • While the model may not be available to the public, the team said Times reporters plan to periodically run the model internally and publish updates to the outlet’s live blog in writing.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of periodically
Adjective
  • This presented significant challenges to utilities because of the intermittent nature of renewable energy.
    Greg Robinson, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Plus: Expect intermittent closures of Pennsylvania Avenue between the 2200-2400 blocks on Monday.
    Mike D'Onofrio, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of intermittent
Adverb
  • Different species of salmon are occasionally mixed up.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
  • At the same time, he's also occasionally expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping and has a record of seeking deals with ideologically divergent leaders.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of occasionally
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near on and off

on-and-off

on and off

on an even keel

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“On and off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20and%20off. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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