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
Lifestyle authors like Timothy Ferriss and Mark Sisson popularized eating like paleolithic humans, barefoot walking, intermittent fasting, and Ironman competitions.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
In theory — and in mice — intermittent fasting works because going without food means blood sugar drops.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Frederick battled intermittent despair and sought solace in Swedenborgianism and other, stranger beliefs.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
In addition to its intermittent interactions with the jet stream, the vortex sometimes experiences sudden warming events that weaken or stop its flow and also send outbreaks of Arctic air southward.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
In theory — and in mice — intermittent fasting works because going without food means blood sugar drops.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Frederick battled intermittent despair and sought solace in Swedenborgianism and other, stranger beliefs.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
In addition to its intermittent interactions with the jet stream, the vortex sometimes experiences sudden warming events that weaken or stop its flow and also send outbreaks of Arctic air southward.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Feb. 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 15 Feb. 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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