# intermittent

/ˌɪntɝˈmɪtənt/ (US) · /ˌɪntəmˈɪtənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intermittent
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. stopping and starting

adjective · CEFR B2

happening sometimes but not all the time, or not in a regular way.

For teachers: occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.

- The radio signal was intermittent because of the heavy storm.
- The patient reported intermittent chest pains that occurred primarily during periods of high stress but vanished during rest.

### 2. seasonal water flow

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used to describe a stream or lake that is dry for part of the year.

For teachers: denoting a watercourse or body of water that flows or contains water only during certain seasons or after rainfall.

- The intermittent stream only flows during the rainy spring months.
- Ecologists studied the unique biodiversity found in the intermittent pools, which remain dry for six months of the year.

### 3. a recurring fever

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for a fever that goes away and then comes back.

For teachers: a disease or fever, such as malaria, characterised by intervals of normal temperature between paroxysms.

- The old medical book described the treatment for a dangerous intermittent.
- Nineteenth-century physicians often struggled to distinguish between various types of intermittents before the discovery of specific pathogens.

## Examples

- The rain was intermittent throughout the afternoon.
- The technician explained that the intermittent internet connection was likely caused by a loose cable in the basement.
- Despite the intermittent nature of the data transmission, the research team managed to reconstruct a coherent map of the seafloor over several months of observation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.