intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt 
1
: coming and going at intervals : not continuous
intermittent rain
2
of a stream or body of water
: appearing and disappearing seasonally : sometimes dry
intermittently
adverb
raining intermittently
Synonyms
Examples of intermittent in a Sentence
In the intermittent light he could make out the shape of a solitary oak tree, spreading great arms from its short tremendous trunk.
—
Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising, (1973) 1999
Decades of intermittent but recurring controversies with imperial authorities, and the lodestar of the glorious Revolution, disposed Americans to continue to believe that representation existed, first and foremost, to protect the rights of their communities against the abuse of executive power.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996
Bronchodilators continue to play an important role in asthma treatment, especially for people who have relatively mild or intermittent attacks.
—Stephen Hoffmann, Harvard Medical School Health Letter, June 1991
The patient was having intermittent pains in his side.
The forecast is for intermittent rain.
Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising, (1973) 1999
Decades of intermittent but recurring controversies with imperial authorities, and the lodestar of the glorious Revolution, disposed Americans to continue to believe that representation existed, first and foremost, to protect the rights of their communities against the abuse of executive power.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996
Bronchodilators continue to play an important role in asthma treatment, especially for people who have relatively mild or intermittent attacks.
—Stephen Hoffmann, Harvard Medical School Health Letter, June 1991
The patient was having intermittent pains in his side.
The forecast is for intermittent rain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Battery experts would expect the intermittent pulses of charge, which have a higher C-rate than continuous charging models, to age batteries faster than standard procedures do.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2025
This intermittent series of eruptions began on Dec. 23, 2024, said the agency.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2025
Preceded by intermittent spatter fountains earlier in the afternoon, sustained fountaining began from the north vent, feeding multiple lava streams.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Crash diets are out, eating intentionally via intermittent fasting, is in.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for intermittent 
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IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2025
This intermittent series of eruptions began on Dec. 23, 2024, said the agency.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2025
Preceded by intermittent spatter fountains earlier in the afternoon, sustained fountaining began from the north vent, feeding multiple lava streams.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Crash diets are out, eating intentionally via intermittent fasting, is in.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for intermittent
Dictionary Entries Near intermittent
Cite this Entry
“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermittent. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌint-ər-ˈmit-ᵊnt
: starting, stopping, and starting again
an intermittent fever
intermittently
adverb
Medical Definition
intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌint-ər-ˈmit-ᵊnt
: coming and going at intervals : not continuous
intermittent fever
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