intermediate

1 of 3

adjective

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət How to pronounce intermediate (audio)
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

intermediate

2 of 3

noun

1
: one that is intermediate
2
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

intermediate

3 of 3

verb

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt How to pronounce intermediate (audio)
intermediated; intermediating; intermediates

intransitive verb

1
2
: to act as an intermediate

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Tom Fullerton, a border business economist at the University of Texas in El Paso, says a lot of things made in Mexico are intermediate components, many of which go back and forth across the border as many as a dozen times. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 If things continue as is, with intermediate emissions, the Arctic may only become ice-free for a few months, from August to October, researchers found. Simrin Singh, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 That intermediate space is also where DaBaby, who in 2021 made homophobic comments onstage at a music festival and experienced a swift career decline, has been living. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Then, as tourism began to take off again after the end of the war in 2009, the south started to acquire a reputation as a place where beginner and intermediate surfers could make progress. Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 Research finds about 80 percent of U.S. trade remedies cases seek to limit imports of raw materials or intermediate inputs needed by the petitioners’ customers to produce their goods and services. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 This project is for intermediate or advanced DIYers. Lucy Fitzgerald, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 The Court of Appeals agreed last year to take Weinstein’s case after an intermediate appeals court upheld his conviction. Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Designed for intermediate and advanced players, the Eclipsion 5 is seen on the feet of Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina and Hubert Hurkacz. Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Noun
Stowe, Vermont Roughly a three-hour drive from Boston, Stowe offers an incredibly varied terrain for its 116 different trails: 16 percent are considered beginner, 55 percent are for intermediates, and 29 percent are for expert-level skiers and snowboarders. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 And even the oldest sample, at 1.6 billion years old, already had lots of the remains of these steroid intermediates. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 June 2023 That gap could be neatly explained if the earlier eukaryotes were using Bloch's biochemical intermediates. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 June 2023 Whistler is known worldwide in the LGBTQ+ community for its annual Whistler Pride festival, and while the resort attracts experts and intermediates, there are enough beginner runs and aprés options to fill a week-long stay. Jonny Bierman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2024 Riding the wave starts at $100 for beginners (for a group of 12), $150 for intermediates (group of 12), and $200 for the advanced (group of 9). Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 13 Dec. 2023 From all-mountain skis to the best for beginners, intermediates, and freeriders, these picks deliver the goods. Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023 Just as parabolic skis turned intermediates into experts on the slopes, AI will amplify the genius that resides within all of us. John Tamny, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 For less experienced skiers, Telluride Ski Resort, on the other side of the mountain, is a 50-mile drive away and 59 percent of its trails are rated for beginners and intermediates. Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Verb
This creates a toxic buildup of LPS biosynthesis intermediates in the cell. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 On the statewide ballot is the nonpartisan seat for Wisconsin Supreme Court and two nonpartisan seats for Wisconsin intermediate appellate courts. Ridah Syed, Journal Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2023 With +play, Verizon is taking aim at other companies seeking to intermediate the relationship between streaming services and consumers, helping those services grow and expand, while taking a small cut in the process. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2022 Of the Colts’ four completions of 20 yards or more in the last two games, three have been short to intermediate throws that the receiver turned into a bigger play. The Indianapolis Star, 24 Nov. 2022 The Fed would intermediate wholesale and retail payments, including as the direct counterparty to U.S. consumers. Kevin Warsh, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2022 Furano Ski Resort, accessed by a gondola and a fast cable car, offers beginner and intermediate cruising pistes. Janet O’Grady, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022 Increasingly, corporate managements approach us about direct partnerships with private equity fund investors, or with the growing cadre of deal-by-deal managers who intermediate for those investors. Antoine Drean, Forbes, 19 July 2022 By investing in Garoppolo, a team would be acquiring a quarterback who processes quickly, is decisive in getting rid of the football and can deliver it accurately to intermediate areas. Nicholas McGee, Forbes, 12 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intermediate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Verb

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

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intermediate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near intermediate

Cite this Entry

“Intermediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermediate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intermediate

adjective
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate
ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət
: being or occurring in the middle or between extremes
intermediate noun
intermediately adverb
Etymology

Adjective

Middle Latin intermediatus "intermediate," derived from Latin inter- "among, in the midst" and medius "middle" — related to median entry 1

Medical Definition

intermediate

1 of 2 adjective
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət How to pronounce intermediate (audio)
: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes
the remaining subjects progressed to some intermediate stage of diseaseR. R. Redfield et al.

intermediate

2 of 2 noun
: 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

Legal Definition

intermediate

adjective
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət How to pronounce intermediate (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on intermediate

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