intermediate

adjective in·ter·me·di·ate \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of intermediate

1 : being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

2 : of or relating to an intermediate school

an intermediate curriculum

—

intermediately

adverb

—

intermediateness

noun

See intermediate defined for English-language learners

See intermediate defined for kids

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

an intermediate stage of growth
I'm taking intermediate French this year.

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

Funds focused on intermediate-maturity, investment-grade debt (the most common type of bond fund) had a negative total return of 0.7%, leaving them with a 2.1% decline for 2018 so far.

— william power, WSJ, "They Told You So: Stock-Fund Gains Remain Disappointing," 6 May 2018
If Price had been classified as an offender posing an intermediate or high risk to the community, a notification would have been sent to residents within a one-mile radius of his home.

— nathan j. fish, azcentral, "Sex offender found guilty in 2016 assault of girl at Gilbert pool," 30 Apr. 2018
Sometimes produce from several different farms is mixed at an intermediate facility before it’s shipped to different parts of the country.

— NBC News, "Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak worsens: 98 people now sick," 27 Apr. 2018
All of the trails are rated as intermediate, except for an expert loop in the Raven system.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In this Northwoods forest, snow and serene skiing are guaranteed," 22 Feb. 2018
Do as other moneyed adventure seekers have done here before and rent out the entire mountain for 40 of your closest friends who don’t check the beginner/intermediate box on their equipment-rental form.

— candice rainey, Esquire, "Where to Get a Ski Slope to Yourself on Any Budget," 12 Jan. 2018
The 500-square-foot space offers classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced speakers, and classes that focus on reading and discussion of African novels in French.

— caitlin mullen, chicagotribune.com, "'It’s very Oak Park': Birth Boutique, focusing on all things mom- and baby-related, opening in arts district," 24 Apr. 2018
Advanced intermediate riders will tackle 8 to 10 technical miles with 1,000-feet of climbing.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Killingly Edition," 24 Apr. 2018
The new building replaces a primary grades building that opened in 1953 and an intermediate building that opened in 1973.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Youth's Benefit Elementary celebrates becoming 'one school in one amazing building'," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intermediate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intermediate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intermediatus, from Latin intermedius, from inter- + medius mid, middle — more at mid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

intermediate Synonyms

intermediate

noun

Definition of intermediate

1 : one that is intermediate

2 : mediator, go-between

3 a : a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products

b : a usually short-lived chemical species formed in a reaction as an intermediate step between the starting material and the final product

4 : an automobile larger than a compact but smaller than a full-sized automobile

See intermediate defined for English-language learners

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

Earnings rose in all three Dow segments, with packaging and plastics business up 17 percent, performance materials and coatings unit up 31 percent, and the industrial intermediates and infrastructure segment gaining 28 percent.

— bloomberg, Houston Chronicle, "DowDupont earnings jump," 3 May 2018
In countries providing more of an intermediate or limited offer of child care or parental leave, grandparents tended to care for children on a weekly basis, the study found.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "The costs of child care around the world," 25 Apr. 2018
Very good experience in a pro-style system and touch on short-to-intermediate throws.

— cleveland.com, "NFL Draft 2018: Todd McShay's 10-year track record rating quarterbacks," 24 Apr. 2018
They were awarded to teachers at Killingly's Central, Memorial, intermediate, and high schools.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Killingly Teachers Receive FOLK Awards," 28 Mar. 2018
But the process of translating DNA into protein goes through an RNA intermediate.

— diana gitig, Ars Technica, "A gene that keeps track of how often it’s made into a protein," 14 Jan. 2018
Beginning classes are held at 8:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, and intermediate and performing classes are at 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Encinitas looking for Senior of the Year...and more community news," 8 Feb. 2018
Long Shot is one of the best intermediate runs at Snowmass, and one of the longest in North America.

— elycia rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, "Powder Players: Where Hollywood Hits The Slopes President’s Day Weekend," 7 Feb. 2018
Using a Jupiter-C intermediate range ballistic missile and working with JPL to build the satellite, ABMA and JPL completed the job in 84 days.

— bob gathany, AL.com, "60th Anniversary of the launch of Explorer I, America's first satellite," 31 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of intermediate

1650

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

intermediate Synonyms

Synonyms

broker, buffer, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker;

Related Words

troubleshooter;

moderator;

bargainer, negotiant, negotiator;

appeaser, pacificator, pacifier, reconciler;

agent, attorney, deputy, factor, procurator, proxy;

liaison, medium;

arbiter, arbitrator, judge, referee, umpire;

adviser (also advisor), counselor (or counsellor);

intermediate

verb in·ter·me·di·ate \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt \

Definition of intermediate

intransitive verb

1 : intervene, interpose

2 : to act as an intermediate

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

if the secretary-general chooses to intermediate in this dispute, he'll need all of his diplomatic skills just to get both sides in the same room

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

Supply disruptions during the fearsome hurricane season explain part of the slump: The wholesalers that have intermediated the U.S. beer industry and customers since Prohibition ran down inventory.

— stephen wilmot, WSJ, "Big Beer’s U.S. Problem Just Got Bigger," 26 Oct. 2017
C All Ages meets are open to swimmers registered with USA Swimming and are generally intended for beginner to intermediate swimmers.

— dan hammonds, Ramona Sentinel, "Swimmers work on technique, turns and speed," 10 July 2017
One of Kepler’s other big surprises was a profusion of planets intermediate in size between Earth and Neptune.

— daniel clery, Science | AAAS, "Kepler telescope catalogs hundreds of new alien worlds, some potentially habitable," 19 June 2017
Open to intermediate and advanced level instrumentalists and vocalists, this ensemble program culminates in a showcase concert with exciting arrangements and original compositions.

— jim harrington, The Mercury News, "SFJAZZ releases blockbuster 2017-18 season lineup," 15 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of intermediate

Medieval Latin intermediatus, past participle of intermediare, from Latin inter- + Late Latin mediare to mediate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1610

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

intermediate Synonyms

Synonyms

intercede, interpose, intervene, mediate;

Near Antonyms

stand by;

avoid, eschew, shun;

disregard, ignore, overlook;

arbitrate, moderate, negotiate, referee;

barge (in), bother;

break (in), chime in, cut in;

infringe, invade, trespass;

INTERMEDIATE Defined for English Language Learners

intermediate

adjective

Definition of intermediate for English Language Learners

: occurring in the middle of a process or series
: relating to or having the knowledge or skill of someone who is more advanced than a beginner but not yet an expert

intermediate

noun

Definition of intermediate for English Language Learners

: a person who has the knowledge or skill of someone who is more advanced than a beginner but not yet an expert

INTERMEDIATE Defined for Kids

intermediate

adjective in·ter·me·di·ate \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət \

Definition of intermediate for Students

: being or occurring in the middle of a series or between extremes

The car was of intermediate size.

—

intermediately

adverb

intermediate

noun

Definition of intermediate for Students

: someone or something that is in the middle of a series or between extremes

Instruction is offered for beginners and intermediates.

Medical Dictionary

intermediate

adjective in·ter·me·di·ate \ ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət \

medical Definition of intermediate

: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

the remaining subjects progressed to some intermediate stage of disease
—R. R. Redfield et al

intermediate

noun

medical Definition of intermediate

: one that is intermediate; especially : a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products

pharmaceutical intermediates

Law Dictionary

intermediate

adjective in·ter·me·di·ate \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət \

legal Definition of intermediate

1 : being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

an intermediate order

2 : of, relating to, or being a level of judicial scrutiny to ensure equal protection of the laws that is applied to a statute involving classification of persons and that is more intensive than the rational basis test and not as severe as strict scrutiny

intermediate review

intermediate scrutiny

—

intermediately

adverb

Learn More about intermediate

See words that rhyme with intermediate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intermediate Spanish Central: Translation of intermediate Nglish: Translation of intermediate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intermediate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up intermediate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

intermediate

Definition of intermediate

intermediately

intermediateness

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of intermediate

intermediate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

intermediate

Definition of intermediate

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

First Known Use of intermediate

intermediate Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

intermediate

Definition of intermediate

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of intermediate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of intermediate

intermediate Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

INTERMEDIATE Defined for English Language Learners

intermediate

Definition of intermediate for English Language Learners

intermediate

Definition of intermediate for English Language Learners

INTERMEDIATE Defined for Kids

intermediate

Definition of intermediate for Students

intermediately

intermediate

Definition of intermediate for Students

Medical Dictionary

intermediate

medical Definition of intermediate

intermediate

medical Definition of intermediate

Law Dictionary

intermediate

legal Definition of intermediate

intermediately

Learn More about intermediate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word