intermittent

adjective

in·​ter·​mit·​tent ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt 

1

: coming and going at intervals : not continuous

intermittent rain

also : occasional

intermittent trips abroad

2

of a stream or body of water : appearing and disappearing seasonally : sometimes dry

intermittently adverb

raining intermittently

Synonyms of intermittent

• recurrent
• recurring
• periodic

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

That has left oil supplies being released in intermittent waves, rather than returning to the stable, steady flow seen in the past. — CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

The boom in solar power has happened as countries have overcome local issues, from a lack of skilled workers to challenges of managing a grid with intermittent renewables. — Akshat Rathi, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

Through a major military operation in 2009, the Pakistan army was able to reestablish control, but the valley has continued to experience intermittent terrorist attacks in the years since. — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026

Malawi, an African nation, faced severe 18-hour blackouts after Tropical Storm Ana destroyed a major hydropower dam in 2022, crippling its grid and highlighting reliance on intermittent solar and expensive diesel. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin intermittent-, intermittens, present participle of intermittere — see intermit

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing intermittent

• intermittent claudication

Rhymes for intermittent

• remittent

Kids 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

intermittence

-ᵊn(t)s 

noun