What does intermittently mean?
Intermittently describes something that happens from time to time rather than continuously or without interruption. It often conveys a stop-and-start pattern: the relevant event may occur several times, but pauses separate one occurrence from the next. For example, rain may fall intermittently, a signal may be intermittently available, or a mechanical fault may cause a system to fail intermittently. The word does not necessarily imply that the intervals follow a predictable schedule; this distinguishes it from periodically, which can suggest regular recurrence. Intermittently is common in formal, technical, scientific, and environmental writing, although it is also suitable for general description. It is often more informative than occasionally because it can suggest repeated interruptions, and more precise than continuously, whose meaning is fundamentally opposite.
adverbAt occasional intervals; in a stop-and-start manner.
- At irregular or occasional intervals, with gaps or interruptions between occurrences.
"The path was intermittently obscured by dense patches of fog."
"Rain fell intermittently throughout the afternoon."
"The service has been intermittently unavailable since the update was installed."
Intermittently hides a Latin secret: inter means “between,” while mittere means “to send”—a fitting clue for something that keeps pausing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of intermittently
Intermittently was formed from the adjective intermittent, with the adverbial suffix -ly. The adjective comes from Latin intermittens, a participial form of intermittere, meaning “to interrupt” or “to let pass.” That Latin verb combines inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” with mittere, meaning “to send.” The English adjective emerged during the early modern period, while the adverb was formed later using the usual -ly pattern.
How intermittently is actually used
Intermittently is formal and neutral, but it is especially common in technical, scientific, and environmental contexts. It indicates that something recurs with interruptions, without necessarily implying that the intervals are regular or predictable.