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
Skipping Breakfast For some people, skipping breakfast as part of intermittent fasting (a structured eating pattern that limits food to certain hours of the day) works well.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 3 Mar. 2026
The weather this week will be windy, warm and occasionally wet, with intermittent showers moving in off the Atlantic Ocean.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
Without a clear presentation to Congress or a formal address to the nation, the administration's communication has been scattershot and intermittent, leaving Americans with the task of piecing it all together.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
News about intermittent fasting seems to change as frequently as the apps on your phone need upgrading.
—New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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Caitlin Beale, Health, 3 Mar. 2026
The weather this week will be windy, warm and occasionally wet, with intermittent showers moving in off the Atlantic Ocean.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
Without a clear presentation to Congress or a formal address to the nation, the administration's communication has been scattershot and intermittent, leaving Americans with the task of piecing it all together.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
News about intermittent fasting seems to change as frequently as the apps on your phone need upgrading.
—New Atlas, 1 Mar. 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 Mar. 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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