intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tᵊnt 
1
: coming and going at intervals : not continuous
intermittent rain
2
of a stream or body of water
: appearing and disappearing seasonally : sometimes dry
intermittently
adverb
raining intermittently
Examples of intermittent in a Sentence
In the intermittent light he could make out the shape of a solitary oak tree, spreading great arms from its short tremendous trunk.
—
Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising, (1973) 1999
Decades of intermittent but recurring controversies with imperial authorities, and the lodestar of the glorious Revolution, disposed Americans to continue to believe that representation existed, first and foremost, to protect the rights of their communities against the abuse of executive power.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996
Bronchodilators continue to play an important role in asthma treatment, especially for people who have relatively mild or intermittent attacks.
—Stephen Hoffmann, Harvard Medical School Health Letter, June 1991
The patient was having intermittent pains in his side.
The forecast is for intermittent rain.
Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising, (1973) 1999
Decades of intermittent but recurring controversies with imperial authorities, and the lodestar of the glorious Revolution, disposed Americans to continue to believe that representation existed, first and foremost, to protect the rights of their communities against the abuse of executive power.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996
Bronchodilators continue to play an important role in asthma treatment, especially for people who have relatively mild or intermittent attacks.
—Stephen Hoffmann, Harvard Medical School Health Letter, June 1991
The patient was having intermittent pains in his side.
The forecast is for intermittent rain.
Recent Examples on the Web
The latest to be published looks at whether intermittent fasting — a practice of limiting eating to only a few hours each day — is an effective way to lose weight.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
In the background, on a large screen, Elijah Frankle’s intermittent projection designs provide ambient visual touches of sea and sky.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Key Takeaways In OSA, the complex interplay between intermittent oxygen deprivation, oxidative stress, and sympathetic nervous system overactivity generates a vicious cycle that weakens the immune system and fosters low-grade inflammation.
—Daniel Combs, Verywell Health, 9 Mar. 2026
This flexibility could help stabilize power grids increasingly influenced by intermittent renewable energy sources.
—David Szondy
march 08, New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
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Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
In the background, on a large screen, Elijah Frankle’s intermittent projection designs provide ambient visual touches of sea and sky.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Key Takeaways In OSA, the complex interplay between intermittent oxygen deprivation, oxidative stress, and sympathetic nervous system overactivity generates a vicious cycle that weakens the immune system and fosters low-grade inflammation.
—Daniel Combs, Verywell Health, 9 Mar. 2026
This flexibility could help stabilize power grids increasingly influenced by intermittent renewable energy sources.
—David Szondy
march 08, New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermittent
Cite this Entry
“Intermittent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermittent. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌint-ər-ˈmit-ᵊnt
: starting, stopping, and starting again
an intermittent fever
intermittently
adverb
Medical Definition
intermittent
adjective
in·ter·mit·tent
ˌint-ər-ˈmit-ᵊnt
: coming and going at intervals : not continuous
intermittent fever
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