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
Ways to lower your blood sugar naturally include making lifestyle changes like walking after meals, eating more fiber, and using intermittent fasting.
—Cynthia Sass, Health, 14 Nov. 2025
Each of us clutched our phones, and the soft hum of small radios filled the tent with intermittent static and fragmented news bulletins about the tense negotiations that were happening in Sharm El Sheikh.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
During the next two years, Harrison's symptoms were intermittent and didn't worsen.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
For most people, the impacts will be limited to stunning skies, but the event may also pose risks for voltage control problems in power systems, GPS navigation errors, and intermittent issues with radio and satellite operations.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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Cynthia Sass, Health, 14 Nov. 2025
Each of us clutched our phones, and the soft hum of small radios filled the tent with intermittent static and fragmented news bulletins about the tense negotiations that were happening in Sharm El Sheikh.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
During the next two years, Harrison's symptoms were intermittent and didn't worsen.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Nov. 2025
For most people, the impacts will be limited to stunning skies, but the event may also pose risks for voltage control problems in power systems, GPS navigation errors, and intermittent issues with radio and satellite operations.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 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 23 Nov. 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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