intermittent

[in-ter-mit-nt]

adjective

1. stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again.

   an intermittent pain.

   Synonyms: sporadic, interrupted

2. alternately functioning and not functioning or alternately functioning properly and improperly.

3. (of streams, lakes, or springs) recurrent; showing water only part of the time.

intermittent

/ ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt /

adjective

1. occurring occasionally or at regular or irregular intervals; periodic

Other Word Forms

• intermittence noun
• intermittency noun
• intermittently adverb
• nonintermittence noun
• nonintermittent adjective
• nonintermittentness noun
• unintermittent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermittent¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin intermittent- (stem of intermittēns ), present participle of intermittere “to leave a space between, drop off (for a while)”; intermit, -ent

Example Sentences

The teeth showed clear chemical traces of intermittent lead exposure that stretch back nearly two million years.

Read more on Science Daily

He has a civil rights practice, where he makes the bulk of his money, but said “payments are intermittent on those.”

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The looping trail to Inspiration Point will be partially open, though it will have intermittent closures as trail work planned before the fire continues, according to State Parks.

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While renewables produce cheap power when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, their intermittent nature adds costs to the broader grid, analysts say.

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Exuberance about artificial intelligence has mostly powered markets higher this year, but with intermittent setbacks as investors question whether lofty valuations and massive AI outlays are justified.

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Related Words

• fitful 
• infrequent 
• occasional 
• periodic 
• recurrent 
• recurring 
• seasonal