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in·ter·me·di·ate | \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət 
\
\Definition of intermediate
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
intermediate
nounDefinition of intermediate (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : one that is intermediate
2 : mediator, go-between
3a : 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
intermediate
verbin·ter·me·di·ate | \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt \
\intermediated; intermediating; intermediates
Definition of intermediate (Entry 3 of 3)
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Synonyms for intermediate
Synonyms: Adjective
Synonyms: Noun
- broker,
- buffer,
- conciliator,
- go-between,
- honest broker,
- interceder,
- intercessor,
- intermediary,
- interposer,
- mediator,
- middleman,
- peacemaker
Synonyms: Verb
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Examples of intermediate in a Sentence
Adjective
an intermediate stage of growth
I'm taking intermediate French this year. Noun
she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother Verb
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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective News reports that Charlie Noxon hit a sign while trying to navigate a fork in the trail on an intermediate ski run.
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Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Jenji Kohan, ex-husband 'shattered' by son's New Year's Eve death," 3 Jan. 2020 Aronias or chokeberries are leggy shrubs, to six feet or so, and useful in moist areas that need an intermediate layer between low ground covers and trees.
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Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "Planning your 2020 garden? You’ll want to check out the year’s Gold Medal Plants.," 1 Jan. 2020 The Park Record reported the accident occurred on an intermediate ski trail.
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Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, "Orange Is the New Black Creator's Son, 20, Dies in Skiing Accident on New Year's Eve: Reports," 1 Jan. 2020 The withdrawal of the United States from the intermediate range nuclear forces deal with Russia-
MARGARET BRENNAN: The INF treaty.
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CBS News, "Transcript: Correspondents Panel on "Face the Nation," December 29, 2019," 29 Dec. 2019 Alternatively, Venus could have experienced an intermediate phase, in which its steam condensed and rained down on the surface, creating an ocean.
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Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "Newfound "Ablating" Exoplanets Could Reveal Alien Geology," 23 Dec. 2019 In 2017, North Korea conducted a torrent of missile tests, including flying two intermediate-range missiles over Japan and threatening to fire those weapons toward the U.S. territory of Guam.
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Fox News, "US on high alert for possible ‘Christmas gift’ missile from North Korea," 23 Dec. 2019 In response, the state Legislature passed a law requiring state licensing of intermediate care facilities.
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Maria Polletta, azcentral, "Sex scandals, wedding invitations, faulty prison locks. These are the 19 top Arizona stories of 2019," 22 Dec. 2019 And new research raises the possibility of an intermediate settlement of hundreds or thousands of people who spread out over the wild lands stretching between North America and Asia.
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Rafal Gerszak, Smithsonian, "It’s one of the greatest mysteries of our time. But archaeologists and even geneticists are closer than ever to understanding when humans made the first bold journey to the Americas," 19 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The statement set up speculation that North Korea would test a long range weapon, likely an intermediate or intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching U.S. bases in the Asia-Pacific or even the American homeland.
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Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Why Did U.S. Spy Planes Watch Over North Korea on Christmas?," 26 Dec. 2019 Now open, the resort offers 23 trails: one expert, three most difficult, two advanced intermediate, 12 more difficult, and five beginner.
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Kellie Hwang, Indianapolis Star, "Put down the remote and embrace Indiana winter with these fun activities and destinations," 15 Nov. 2019 The conditions also aren't entirely simple, as there are a number of reaction intermediates that must be supplied.
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John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Single reaction mixture can produce all four RNA bases," 4 Oct. 2019 The rezoning committee includes representation from all the elementary schools, as well as intermediates from both zones that could be affected down stream.
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Jamie Swinnerton, Houston Chronicle, "Conroe ISD plans elementary rezoning in The Woodlands," 26 Nov. 2019 These associations could function as intermediates that enjoy the trust of local members while acting as interlocutors with government agencies and donors in areas like credit provision, technical assistance and technology transfer.
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Washington Post, "The Arab World Must Think Big About its Smallest Businesses," 13 May 2019 Miller said Creekside’s first expansion was in 2013 when the district added a band hall and fine arts addition, bringing the facility up to par with other intermediates.
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Yvette Orozco And Carissa Lamkahouan, Houston Chronicle, "Flurry of bond projects underway in CCISD," 24 Oct. 2019 In the end, the authors tested a series of separate reactions that produced each of the four bases from an identical set of starting materials but requiring different intermediates for each reaction (things like iron, a specific mineral, and so on).
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John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Single reaction mixture can produce all four RNA bases," 4 Oct. 2019 Granby Ranch has replaced 5,000 feet of snowmaking pipe, which is expected to allow the Grand County resort to open all of its intermediate runs on opening day in December.
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John Meyer, The Know, "From a new lift to added terrain, here’s what’s new at Colorado ski areas this season," 20 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Ravens were cautious with the passing game as Jackson stayed with the short to intermediate stuff.
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Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, "Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 23-17 win over Bengals," 13 Oct. 2019 The lift will provide access to a 1,200-foot run in beginner to intermediate terrain with nearly 400 feet of vertical drop.
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Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Miles to go before they ski: Backers of new Hatcher Pass alpine area hustle ahead of snowfall," 16 Sep. 2019 On an 18-play, 85-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, the Panthers used 9:15 of the clock as Pickett threw 14 times, mostly on short to intermediate routes.
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Scooby Axson, SI.com, "Penn State Leaves Questions in Surviving Sloppy Affair With Rival Pitt," 14 Sep. 2019 Cross-border bank lending booked in Hong Kong has roughly doubled in the past decade, much of it Chinese companies borrowing dollars intermediated through the territory.
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The Economist, "Hong Kong remains crucially important to mainland China," 8 Aug. 2019 Wall Street firms started out serving their traditional and essential purpose of intermediating capital during the mortgage boom.
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Daniel J. Arbess, WSJ, "Get Ready for the Next Financial Crisis," 14 Sep. 2018 Play is appropriate for beginner to intermediate players.
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Debi Eimer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Here's 45 ways you can have fun this summer in the Germantown-Menomonee Falls area," 21 May 2018 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.
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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.
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Dan Hammonds, Ramona Sentinel, "Swimmers work on technique, turns and speed," 10 July 2017
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for intermediate
intermediate
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of intermediate
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of intermediate (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person who has the knowledge or skill of someone who is more advanced than a beginner but not yet an expert
See the full definition for intermediate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
intermediate
adjectivein·ter·me·di·ate | \ ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət \
\Kids Definition of intermediate
(Entry 1 of 2)
: being or occurring in the middle of a series or between extremes
The car was of intermediate size.
intermediate
nounKids Definition of intermediate (Entry 2 of 2)
: someone or something that is in the middle of a series or between extremes
Instruction is offered for beginners and intermediates.
intermediate
adjectivein·ter·me·di·ate | \ ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət \
\Medical Definition of intermediate
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
nounMedical Definition of intermediate (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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
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intermediate
adjectivein·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
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Time Traveler for intermediate
The first known use of intermediate was in the 15th century
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