intermittent

American  

[in-ter-mit-nt] / ˌɪn tərˈmɪt 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.

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intermittent British  

/ ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of intermittent

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

These industries are central to U.S. economic growth, technological leadership and national competitiveness and require constant, high-quality power that intermittent resources alone cannot provide.

From The Wall Street Journal

Were these small eruptions and intermittent earthquakes the whole of Mount St. Helens’s show?

From Literature

They embarked on a painfully destructive intermittent relationship, which culminated in an unhappy marriage in 1918.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since then, he has practised intermittent fasting - not eating for long periods in the day.

From BBC

"The Bidborough area is currently with intermittent supplies and low pressure. We expect supplies here to return to normal on Monday morning," Dean added.

From BBC

Related Words

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