intermediate

¹ American  

[in-ter-mee-dee-it] / ˌɪn tərˈmi di ɪt /

adjective

1. being, situated, or acting between two points, stages, things, persons, etc..

   the intermediate steps in a procedure.

2. of or relating to an intermediate school.

3. Automotive. mid-size.

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noun

1. a person who acts between others; intermediary; mediator.

2. something intermediate, as a form or class.

3. Chemistry. a derivative of the initial material formed before the desired product of a chemical process.

intermediate ² American  

[in-ter-mee-dee-eyt] / ˌɪn tərˈmi diˌeɪt /

verb (used without object)

intermediates, present (3rd person singular) intermediated, past participle, past intermediating present participle

1. to act as an intermediary; intervene; mediate.

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intermediate British  

adjective

1. occurring or situated between two points, extremes, places, etc; in between

2. (of a class, course, etc) suitable for learners with some degree of skill or competence

3. physics (of a neutron) having an energy between 100 and 100 000 electronvolts

4. geology (of such igneous rocks as syenite) containing between 55 and 66 per cent silica

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noun

1. something intermediate

2. a substance formed during one of the stages of a chemical process before the desired product is obtained

verb

1. (intr) to act as an intermediary or mediator

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intermediator
  noun
• intermediately
  adverb
• intermediateness
  noun
• intermediation
  noun
• intermediacy
  noun
• intermediatory
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have intermediated
  perfect
• has intermediated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been intermediating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is intermediating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are intermediating
  progressive
• am intermediating
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been intermediating
  perfect progressive
• intermediating
  participle
• intermediates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had intermediated
  perfect
• was intermediating
  progressive singular
• were intermediating
  progressive plural
• intermediated
  participle
• had been intermediating
  perfect progressive
• intermediated
  simple

Future

• will intermediate
  simple
• will have intermediated
  perfect
• will be intermediating
  progressive
• will have been intermediating
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

In early European trade on Monday, Brent crude climbed 4.5% to $97.32 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 4.5% to $94.59 a barrel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

That’s also the delivery point for West Texas Intermediate, the light and sweet oil grade that is the U.S. crude futures benchmark.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

Brent crude futures and West Texas Intermediate futures increased.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate were moving sideways.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

That summer Lindsey Lloyd and I traded off for high point in the Intermediate Girls Division at each of the Eastern Montana Federation swim meets.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth

Related Words

• transitional