intermittent

UK: /ˌɪntə^rˈmɪt^ənt/ US: /ˌɪntɚˈmɪtənt/ ,(in′tər mit′nt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•mit•tent /ˌɪntɚˈmɪtənt/   adj. 

1. stopping for a time, then starting again:
   intermittent pain.

in•ter•mit•tent•ly, adv. 

: During the earthquake the lights flickered intermittently.

See -mit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•mit•tent  (in′tər mit′nt), adj. 

1. stopping or ceasing for a time;
   alternately ceasing and beginning again:
   an intermittent pain.
2. alternately functioning and not functioning or alternately functioning properly and improperly.
3. Geography (of streams, lakes, or springs) recurrent;
   showing water only part of the time.

• Latin intermittent- (stem of intermittēns) present participle of intermittere to intermit; see -ent
• 1595–1605

in′ter•mit′tence, in′ter•mit′ten•cy, n. 
in′ter•mit′tent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. interrupted, sporadic.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intermittent / ˌɪntəˈmɪt^ənt/ adjective

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

ˌinterˈmittence, ˌinterˈmittency noun

ˌinterˈmittently adverb