intermittent
in-ter-MIT-uhnt
/ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt/
Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
Specifically emphasizes the gaps between occurrences. It is often used for technical faults or weather.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'inter-' (between) + 'mittere' (to send). It literally means 'sending between', as if the action is being sent out in batches with spaces in between.
Word relationships
- sporadic: Sporadic is even more irregular and scattered than intermittent.
- fitful: Fitful is usually used for sleep or light.
- continuous: Continuous has no gaps; intermittent is defined by its gaps.
Commonly confused with
- continual: Continual sounds like it's almost always happening; intermittent sounds like it's mostly off with occasional 'ons'.
Word family
- intermittently (adverb): At intervals.
Collocations
- intermittent fasting
- intermittent rain
- intermittent fever
Example sentences
- "The forecast calls for intermittent showers throughout the afternoon." Describing weather.
- "The radio signal was intermittent, fading in and out as we drove through the valley." Describing a technical issue.
Memory hook
Intermittent has 'MIT' in the middle, like a baseball 'mitt'. You only catch the ball sometimes, not continuously. Windshield wipers on a slow setting.
When not to use
Don't use if the pattern is perfectly regular (like a heartbeat); use 'periodic' instead.
Fun facts
- Intermittent fasting is a popular health trend where you only eat during specific windows of time.
Explore more words
sporadic, occasional, periodic, infrequent, incessant, recurrent
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