intermittently
Occurring at irregular intervals, not continuously
Examples
In a meeting
“The server has been working intermittently since this morning.”
Over coffee
“It's been raining intermittently all day—sunny one minute, pouring the next.”
Why this word
occasionally
Occasionally means infrequently, while intermittently emphasizes irregular stops and starts
sometimes
Sometimes is vague about frequency and pattern, while intermittently specifies recurring intervals with gaps
periodically
Periodically suggests regular intervals, while intermittently implies irregular or unpredictable pauses
Usage tip
Best for describing unpredictable patterns, not regular schedules
Etymology
Latin inter- (between) + mittere (to send) — sent between, with gaps
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Related words
subsequent
Coming after something in time or order.
perpetual
Never ending or changing; occurring continuously.
defer
To postpone something to a later time, or to yield to someone else's judgment.
tenure
The period of time someone holds a position or office
retroactive
Taking effect from a date in the past rather than from the present
protract
To extend or prolong something in time