intermittently

American  

[in-ter-mit-nt-lee] / ˌɪn tərˈmɪt nt li /

adverb

1. at occasional or uneven intervals.

   This species of flounder spawns mainly during the summer and early fall, but may spawn intermittently throughout the year.

   In this parched landscape, water flows intermittently, with lakes and streams forming in the wet season and disappearing in the dry season.

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Other Word Forms

• nonintermittently
  adverb
• unintermittently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of intermittently

intermittent ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

The adverb intermittently describes something that starts, then stops, then starts up again. If you studied intermittently last night, that means sometimes you studied but sometimes you took breaks to do other things. If something happens intermittently, it doesn’t happen all the time or in a steady flow, but goes in fits and starts. It might rain intermittently on Monday or your car might intermittently refuse to start. Make sure you spell intermittently with two “t”s. You can blame the Latin for that: intermittently evolved from the Latin root intermittĕre, which means “to cease.”

Example Sentences

Recipients of these benefits in turn regularly have their finances reevaluated, and are also intermittently examined by medical and vocational experts, to determine whether their payments will continue.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

But since last fall, it’s been intermittently serving up ads, part of a pilot program being tested on some of Samsung’s smart fridges sold in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

"Our study suggests using them intermittently, then activating suction at intervals, might be better. That's because mosquitoes don't tend to stick around their target when both clues aren't used at the same time."

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

According MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP on Friday, only nine commercial ships -- tankers, cargo vessels and container ships -- had been detected crossing the strait since Monday, with some intermittently masking their position.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Warburg’s ideas received confirmation in 1953 when other workers were able to turn normal cells into cancer cells merely by depriving them of oxygen intermittently over long periods.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• occasionally
• periodically
• sporadically