in·ter·me·di·ate
ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət 
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
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
in·ter·me·di·ate
ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt
intermediated; intermediating; intermediates
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
Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Under that policy, there are limitations on the amounts and types of sensitive content in texts on elementary, intermediate, middle and high school shelves.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
Luke Smith, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
That rain saw both Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri slide off the circuit, but Norris was able to regain control of his car and immediately duck into the pits to swap his slicks for intermediates.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
These intermediates shuttle between the electrodes, causing unnecessary chemical reactions that degrade the battery’s performance and lifespan over time.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intermediate
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Adjective
Trail Rides, Toddler Rides and Baby Sheep A standout activity for many are Alisal’s daily, two-hour scenic trail rides, with groups divided by riding level: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
—Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Under that policy, there are limitations on the amounts and types of sensitive content in texts on elementary, intermediate, middle and high school shelves.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
Noun
Norris kept out of the wall and made it into the pits for intermediates, but Piastri got stuck in the grass at the final chicane and tumbled out of the points as a result.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
That rain saw both Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri slide off the circuit, but Norris was able to regain control of his car and immediately duck into the pits to swap his slicks for intermediates.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
Their encounter would eventually lead to a conversation intermediated by a translator, an ad hoc animation critique, and, some years later, a job on Miyazaki’s 1997 classic Princess Mononoke, which has been remastered and re-released in Imax for the first time this week.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
These intermediates shuttle between the electrodes, causing unnecessary chemical reactions that degrade the battery’s performance and lifespan over time.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intermediate
Cite this Entry
“Intermediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermediate. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
intermediate
1 of 2 adjective
in·ter·me·di·ate
ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət
: 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.
R. 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
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
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