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
  • 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
Definition of off and on
Adjective
  • Transformers removed a bottleneck for natural language In the early 2010s, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) were a popular architecture for understanding natural language.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Once contracted, the virus is lifelong, remaining latent or inactive in one’s nerve cells between recurrent outbreaks of ulcers.
    Dr. Tal Patalon, MD, LLB, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of recurrent
Adverb
  • Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the IRS non-filer program had run sporadically since 2016.
    Eamon Javers, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Playing the waiting game too long with someone who has shown flashes of brilliance so sporadically will come to bite you in the end.
    Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 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
  • Even small, periodic increases in contributions can significantly enhance the compounding effect over time, leading to a larger retirement nest egg.
    True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • There are periodic reviews to make sure companies are in their appropriate sectors.
    Bob Pisani, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of periodic
Adverb
  • Monday Night Football Odds Pro football odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.
    Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • During periods where a flare-up is not occurring, the virus isn't usually transmissible, although asymptomatic shedding can occur periodically in both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections, even in people who have no visible outbreaks.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of periodically
Adjective
  • The problem for Nketiah is that there is no obvious role for him beyond intermittent appearances from the bench.
    Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
  • However, with communications still down hours later and official updates limited, reports of casualties began emerging on social media and through intermittent phone calls.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of intermittent
Adverb
  • Through November and December, price promotions were kept in check, typically 25 to 40 percent off, occasionally up to 60 percent, and inventories were well managed, maintaining the right balance between comp sales gains and inventory growth.
    David Moin, WWD, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Basketball has enjoyed a symbiotic and occasionally campy relationship with this calendar date, from the Jordan-Ewing smash of 1986 to the iconic Shaq-Kobe grudge match in 2004 to those weirdly-endearing fluorescent uniforms from a few years prior.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 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 31 Dec. 2024.

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