What does intermit mean?
Intermit is a formal verb meaning to stop temporarily and then begin again, or to occur at intervals. It suggests continuity interrupted by pauses rather than a complete ending. A person may say that the rain intermitted, meaning it stopped for a while before returning, while a doctor might describe intermittent pain that comes and goes. In technical writing, the verb often appears in phrases such as “intermittent signal,” referring to a transmission that repeatedly breaks off and resumes. The word is especially useful when the pattern of interruption matters: something can continue overall while still being discontinuous in practice. Its Latin roots also connect it to related words such as intermittent and intermission, all conveying the idea of something appearing or occurring between intervals.
To stop temporarily or interrupt the continuity of a process, and then begin again.
"The machine intermitted its operation several times before shutting down completely."
In this sense, intermit emphasizes a temporary interruption with a possible or actual later resumption.
To occur or happen at intervals, in separate bursts, or intermittently.
"The wind intermitted, then returned with greater force."
This use often describes weather, signals, physical symptoms, or other recurring phenomena.
To ‘intermit’ is to interrupt a rhythm without ending it: the heart of the word is the pause between repeated beginnings.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intermit come from?
Intermit comes from the Latin verb intermittere, formed from inter- (“between”) and mittere (“to send”), originally meaning “to send between” or “let pass between intervals.” English borrowed the verb in the early 17th century, initially in contexts involving interruptions or temporary pauses. Its relatives include the Latin-derived adjective intermittent, the noun intermittence, and intermission, all sharing the idea of something occurring or happening between intervals.
Related word forms
How intermit is actually used
Intermit is formal and literary in general use, though it is common in technical, medical, and scientific contexts. It often implies that something stops for a time but may continue later, rather than that it ends permanently.