intermittent

[ in-ter-mit-nt ]

adjective

1. stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again:

   an intermittent pain.

   Synonyms: sporadic, interrupted

2. alternately functioning and not functioning or alternately functioning properly and improperly.
3. (of streams, lakes, or springs) recurrent; showing water only part of the time.

intermittent

/ ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt /

adjective

1. occurring occasionally or at regular or irregular intervals; periodic

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈmittence, noun
• ˌinterˈmittently, adverb

Other Words From

• in·ter·mit·tence in·ter·mit·ten·cy noun
• in·ter·mit·tent·ly adverb
• non·in·ter·mit·tence noun
• non·in·ter·mit·tent adjective
• non·in·ter·mit·tent·ness noun
• un·in·ter·mit·tent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermittent¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin intermittent- (stem of intermittēns ), present participle of intermittere “to leave a space between, drop off (for a while)”; intermit, -ent

Example Sentences

There are many great and memorable exhibits in the museum, but perhaps the pièce de résistance is the massive Olympic pool-sized ball pit that hosts intermittent light shows in which additional balls and spotlights descend from the already bulbous ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

The statistics show a rise in 18 to 34-year-olds who never binge drink, with more in the Generation Z age group turning to "intermittent sobriety", where they want to give up drinking, but not completely.

From BBC

Intermittent sobriety is the new buzz term among Gen Zs who want to give up drinking, but not completely.

From BBC

But a small amount of gas generation will likely still be needed by 2035, the Climate Change Committee says, in order to help keep the lights on when intermittent renewable sources dip.

From BBC

I don’t do intermittent fasting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fitful
• infrequent
• occasional
• periodic
• recurrent
• recurring
• seasonal