by fits and starts

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Past efforts to tighten security cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo have progressed by fits and starts.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2023

After the Civil War, the breakup movement kept going by fits and starts, over who was getting the rawest deal on you-name-it.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2021

But he will, by fits and starts, be able to get some legislation through.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2021

“My poetry imitates or reproduces the way knowledge or awareness comes to me, which is by fits and starts and by indirection. I don’t think poetry arranged in neat patterns would reflect that situation.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2017

So by fits and starts, she followed Yuko into Islam.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers