intermediate

adjective

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

noun

Definition 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

verb

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

intermediated; intermediating; intermediates

Definition of intermediate (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : intervene, interpose

2 : to act as an intermediate

Other Words from intermediate Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about intermediate

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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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Any such Pentagon program risks an arms race with Russia or even China, since Beijing isn’t party to the treaty and has deployed short and intermediate -range missiles in significant numbers. — Thomas Grove, WSJ, "Putin Threatens Arms Race as U.S. Prepares to Exit Nuclear Treaty," 5 Dec. 2018 Jermaine Kearse and Quincy Enunwa are short and intermediate targets. — SI.com, "Fantasy Football Preseason Reports: A Scout’s Take on Every Team," 5 July 2018 Gorbachev showed up offering huge reductions in strategic and intermediate-range nuclear weapons. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump reassures anxious hawks that he’s willing to walk away from North Korea talks," 11 May 2018 Fink, a third-year sophomore who has appeared in three games, completed several short and intermediate passes, with no turnovers. — Lindsey Thiry, latimes.com, "USC quarterbacks Matt Fink and Jack Sears show 'some growth' at spring practices," 11 Apr. 2018 Yes, this is the steep and deep land of World Cups and Winter Olympics, but the Italian Alps is also home to wide, groomed runs (86 percent are blue and red, the easiest), which means paradise for intermediate skiers with a daredevil streak. — Amy Tara Koch, Vogue, "The Slopes Less Taken: Going on a Ski Safari in the Dolomites," 7 Mar. 2019 Workshops Holiday Photoshop SAT Observe or follow on library computer to learn basic and intermediate Adobe Photoshop holiday projects; 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle; call to register (206-684-4086 or spl.org). — Madeline Mckenzie, The Seattle Times, "Community calendar: Ballard Holiday Fest, Museum First Thursday and more," 28 Nov. 2018 FRI Introductory hustle lesson, no partner or experience needed, 7:30 p.m.; intermediate lesson, 8:15 p.m.; dance hustle, swing, cha-cha, nightclub two-step and more, 9 p.m. Friday, Juanita Community Club, 13027 100th Ave. — Madeline Mckenzie, The Seattle Times, "Community calendar: Swedish pancake breakfast, Puyallup Home & Garden Show, ice-skating," 2 Jan. 2019 Experts believe leaving the treaty would allow the U.S. to develop intermediate-range missiles to counter China. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Why the U.S. Is Quitting a Key Nuclear Weapons Treaty," 5 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Given the high altitude and steep face of the mountains, there are few long and easy runs, making the resort ideal for intermediates. — Elizabeth Wellington, Vogue, "This Austrian Spa and Ski Town Is Straight Out of a Wes Anderson Film," 11 Jan. 2019 Janney Montgomery Scott recently said the Fed is likely to pause and may halt rate increases, the credit cycle is turning and intermediate to longer-term interest rates have likely peaked. — Daniel Kruger, WSJ, "Goldman Sachs Lowers Forecasts for Yields, Fed," 9 Jan. 2019 Here’s how the numbers compare for the time periods of a 25-year long run, 17- and 15-year intermediate runs, and eight- and five-year short runs. — Wes Moss, ajc, "Wes Moss: What you need to remember when navigating choppy markets," 22 May 2018 Conger came up short of his seed times of 14.32 in the high hurdles and 38.71 in the intermediate, but should contend for a state medal in both. — Rick Armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, "Conger's hunger: Sam Conger qualifies for state in three events to lift Batavia to second place in sectional," 19 May 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Wall Street firms started out serving their traditional and essential purpose of intermediating capital during the mortgage boom. — Daniel J. Arbess, WSJ, "Get Ready for the Next Financial Crisis," 14 Sep. 2018 Play is appropriate for beginner to intermediate players. — 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. — 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

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.

History and Etymology for intermediate

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

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

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More Definitions for intermediate

intermediate

adjective

English 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

noun

English 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

adjective

in·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

noun

Kids 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

adjective

in·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

noun

Medical 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

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