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
Details of the forum focused on the intermittent water supply affecting an overall population of nearly 10 million people were published Thursday by the official website Cubadebate.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Timing and exact coverage remain less certain this far out, but intermittent rounds of showers and storms look likely Saturday through Monday.
—Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 26 May 2026
If anyone must drive near the area, MDFR warned that intermittent road closures could be possible, and that motorists should stay alert and follow all traffic directions.
—Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Over the past two decades, however, more farmers have used intermittent flooding – draining their fields periodically.
—Hanqin Tian, Fortune, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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ABC News, 28 May 2026
Timing and exact coverage remain less certain this far out, but intermittent rounds of showers and storms look likely Saturday through Monday.
—Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 26 May 2026
If anyone must drive near the area, MDFR warned that intermittent road closures could be possible, and that motorists should stay alert and follow all traffic directions.
—Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Over the past two decades, however, more farmers have used intermittent flooding – draining their fields periodically.
—Hanqin Tian, Fortune, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Cite this Entry
“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermittent. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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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