Intermittent Meaning

Meaning of Word

Intermittent refers to something that occurs at irregular intervals, with periods of activity followed by pauses or breaks. It describes actions, events, or processes that are not continuous but happen sporadically.

Definitions and Meaning in English

Occurring at intervals – Something that happens occasionally, with breaks or gaps between occurrences.
Non-continuous – Describing something that does not happen in a steady, continuous manner, but rather in bursts or stops.
Sporadic – Events or actions that happen irregularly or intermittently, without a fixed pattern.
Periodically recurring – Describes something that happens from time to time but is not constant.

History and Origin

The word “intermittent” comes from the Latin verb “intermittere,” meaning “to leave off” or “to interrupt.” This Latin word is a combination of “inter-“ meaning “between” and “mittere,” meaning “to send” or “to let go.” The term has been used in English since the late 16th century to describe actions or phenomena that are interrupted or occur at irregular intervals, as opposed to continuous processes.

Detailed Explanation

Intermittent describes events, actions, or conditions that are not continuous but occur in irregular bursts. The term is often used in contexts like weather patterns, work schedules, and technical systems. For example:

Intermittent rain refers to rain that occurs in intervals, with dry periods between rain showers.
Intermittent fasting is a diet pattern where eating periods are alternated with fasting periods.
Intermittent power failure means that electricity is provided in sporadic intervals, rather than consistently.

In general, something that is intermittent may stop and start with no fixed pattern, unlike something continuous, which happens without interruption.

Example Sentences

The intermittent rain made the game difficult to play.
She struggled with intermittent headaches that came and went throughout the day.
The device experienced intermittent connection issues, disrupting the work.
His intermittent visits to the office caused confusion among the team.
The intermittent sound of the bell signaled the end of each class period.
The doctor prescribed intermittent doses of the medication to manage the condition.
They encountered intermittent delays on their journey due to road closures.
The lights flickered intermittently, making it hard to focus on the task.
The intermittent nature of the service made it unreliable for the customers.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

Sporadic – Occurring irregularly or in scattered instances, similar to intermittent.
Occasional – Happening at intervals, not frequently or continuously.
Periodic – Occurring at regular or irregular intervals, closely related to intermittent events.
Irregular – Not following a consistent or predictable pattern, like intermittent occurrences.
Fragmented – Broken into pieces or interrupted, similar to something intermittent.

Related Words with Short Explanation

Interruption – A break or pause in the continuity of something, related to the idea of intermittent.
Discontinuity – The absence of continuity, often used to describe intermittent processes or actions.
Break – A short pause in activity, reflecting the intermittent nature of an event.
Interval – A period of time between two events, directly related to something that happens intermittently.
Disrupted – Interrupted or disturbed, often describing a process that is intermittent.

More Matches with Short Explanation

Intermittent fasting – A pattern of eating that alternates between periods of eating and fasting.
Intermittent power supply – A situation where power is available in irregular intervals, rather than continuously.
Intermittent claudication – Pain or cramping in the legs that comes and goes, often during exercise.
Intermittent signal – A signal that is not constant, but rather appears and disappears.
Intermittent showers – Rain that falls in scattered bursts, not continuously.

Antonyms

Continuous – Occurring without interruption or breaks, opposite of intermittent.
Constant – Happening without change or variation over time, unlike intermittent occurrences.
Steady – Consistent and unchanging, in contrast to something that is intermittent.
Uninterrupted – Without any pauses or breaks, the opposite of intermittent.
Perpetual – Continuing without end or interruption, unlike intermittent processes.