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
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
Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.
—Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 29 May 2025
Holmgren had to take intermittent breaks from the sport because of growing pains.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 24 May 2025
Pleasant Hills Golf Course, located near East San Jose’s Lake Cunningham, opened in 1960, but has remained shuttered since 2004, except for intermittent grazing on the property.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 29 May 2025
Holmgren had to take intermittent breaks from the sport because of growing pains.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 24 May 2025
Pleasant Hills Golf Course, located near East San Jose’s Lake Cunningham, opened in 1960, but has remained shuttered since 2004, except for intermittent grazing on the property.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Cite this Entry
“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermittent. Accessed 5 Jun. 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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