Intermittent
/ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
Definitions
Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
/ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
Stopping and starting at intervals; not continuous.
The train's arrival time was subject to intermittent delays.
💡 Simply: Imagine a light that turns on and off, sometimes bright, sometimes dark. That's what intermittent means. Like when your favorite TV show has a commercial break, then comes back on.
👶 For kids: Happening sometimes, then stopping, then happening again, like a game that has breaks.
More Examples
The doctor noted that the fever was intermittent, spiking only at certain times of the day.
After several weeks of intermittent work on the project, we finally finished it.
How It's Used
"Intermittent rain showers are expected throughout the afternoon."
"The patient experienced intermittent chest pains."
"We were experiencing intermittent internet connectivity."
From Latin *intermittō* ('I interrupt, I discontinue'), from *inter-* ('between') + *mittō* ('I send, let go'). Reflects the idea of something stopping and starting again.
The word began to be used in the 17th century, primarily to describe something that pauses or is temporarily suspended, often in the context of events or processes.