intermediate
1 Americanadjective
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being, situated, or acting between two points, stages, things, persons, etc..
the intermediate steps in a procedure.
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of or relating to an intermediate school.
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Automotive. mid-size.
noun
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a person who acts between others; intermediary; mediator.
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something intermediate, as a form or class.
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Chemistry. a derivative of the initial material formed before the desired product of a chemical process.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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occurring or situated between two points, extremes, places, etc; in between
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(of a class, course, etc) suitable for learners with some degree of skill or competence
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physics (of a neutron) having an energy between 100 and 100 000 electronvolts
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geology (of such igneous rocks as syenite) containing between 55 and 66 per cent silica
noun
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something intermediate
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a substance formed during one of the stages of a chemical process before the desired product is obtained
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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intermediacynoun
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intermediatenessnoun
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intermediationnoun
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intermediatornoun
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intermediatoryadjective
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intermediatelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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intermediatesimple
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intermediatessimple
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have intermediatedperfect
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has intermediatedperfect
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are intermediatingprogressive
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am intermediatingprogressive
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is intermediatingprogressive
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have been intermediatingperfect progressive
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has been intermediatingperfect progressive
Past
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intermediatedsimple
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had intermediatedperfect
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was intermediatingprogressive
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were intermediatingprogressive
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had been intermediatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of intermediate1
1615–25; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, equivalent to Latin intermedi ( us ) intermediary ( inter- inter- + medius middle, in the middle) + -ātus -ate 1
Origin of intermediate2
1600–10; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, past participle of intermediāre. See inter-, mediate
Explanation
Use the adjective intermediate when you find yourself in that in-between stage, like after you complete an introductory class but before you are ready for the advanced stuff. The word intermediate comes from the Latin intermediatus, tracing back to intermedius, which combines inter-, meaning “between” and medius, meaning “middle.” So you can see that intermediate describes something or someone in the middle, between two distinct phases, like an intermediate swimmer who has mastered the basic strokes but isn't yet ready to join the racing team.
Vocabulary lists containing intermediate
Power Prefix: inter-
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Four Power Prefixes: anti-, con-, inter-, and uni-.
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Unit 2: Evolution
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But over the short and even intermediate terms, lasting not just several years but decades, gold’s correlation to inflation is unstable.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
He would hold them for around three months, for the intermediate stage in their lives called backgrounding, because the animals build up health and immunity before being sold again to feedlots for final fattening.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
At the state track and field championships, Jayden Rendon of Carson was in the lead of the 300 intermediate hurdles on Saturday when he struck the final hurdle and fell to the ground.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
Both drivers took to the start on the treaded intermediate tyres, despite a dry track, hoping to benefit from the cold conditions.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
To make matters worse, one night after a bombing mission, their aircraft got stuck at their intermediate airfield without food and low on fuel.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
