intermittent - Master This Word

intermittent Word Meanings

• occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous
• stopping and starting again
• alternating periods of activity and inactivity

intermittent Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• The rain was intermittent all day.
• She has intermittent headaches.
• The lights flickered in an intermittent way.
• We receive intermittent calls from him.
• He takes intermittent breaks while studying.

intermittent Word Etymology

Root: inter- = between, miss = to send; Origin: Latin → Old French → English; Memory Image: Imagine a car that has intermittent wipers, turning off and on, just like the stopping and starting nature of something occurring intermittently.

Real Context

Intermittent describes something that happens at irregular intervals rather than continuously. It emphasizes pauses or gaps between occurrences, as in intermittent rain, intermittent power outages, or an intermittent engine problem that comes and goes. The term is often used for processes that start, stop, and start again, or for patterns that alternate between active and inactive phases. Learners should note that intermittent does not mean rare or random; there is often a detectable rhythm of bursts followed by breaks. In everyday speech you can pair it with nouns like behavior, symptoms, service, or noise to convey unstable timing that is not steady.

Usage Reminders

• Use intermittent for events that pause and resume, not ongoing ones.
• Pair it with nouns that can start and stop.
• Avoid using intermittent for things that are truly continuous.
• Be aware of the adverb form intermittently.
• Check whether the pattern has a rhythm of bursts and breaks before choosing a synonym.

Common Misconceptions

• Intermittent does not mean rare with no pattern; there is often a rhythm of bursts and breaks.
• It is not interchangeable with sporadic in every context; sporadic often lacks a predictable pattern.
• Do not use intermittent for things that are truly continuous and steady.
• Intermittent is not a noun; use as an adjective (intermittent rain) or adverb (intermittently) when appropriate.
• Confusing intermittent with incidental: intermittent focuses on timing, incidental focuses on consequence.

Thinking Differences

In English, intermittent focuses on a pattern of interruptions within a process or event, often implying a rhythm of bursts followed by breaks. Learners may overgeneralize to mean just occasional or rare, or misplace it with sporadic when the pattern is clearer. Remember that many English speakers link intermittent to symptoms, faults, or services that fan in and out rather than staying on a constant level.

Learning Tips

• Study plenty of collocations with intermittent (intermittent rain, intermittent faults, intermittent signals).
• Compare with sporadic to spot the rhythm vs randomness.
• Practice both adjective and adverb forms (intermittent, intermittently).
• Listen for pauses in real contexts (announcements, system lights).
• Create your own example sentences from daily activities.
• Use visuals or timelines to illustrate pauses and resumes.

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

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