intermittently
Meaning: At irregular intervals; stopping and starting repeatedly rather than continuing in a steady or predictable pattern.
Intermittently describes activity that comes and goes without regularity, distinguishing it from 'periodically' (which implies regular intervals). It is widely used in weather forecasts ('rain intermittently'), medical reports ('symptoms appear intermittently'), and technical writing ('the signal dropped intermittently'). The word carries no strong positive or negative charge — it is descriptive rather than evaluative.
Examples
- The broadband service has been working only intermittently since the storm damaged cables across the region. 自从暴风雨损坏了该地区的电缆以来,宽带服务一直时断时续。El servicio de banda ancha ha funcionado solo de forma intermitente desde que la tormenta dañó los cables de la zona.嵐で地域のケーブルが損傷して以来、ブロードバンドサービスは断続的にしか機能していない。폭풍으로 인해 지역 케이블이 손상된 이후 광대역 서비스가 단속적으로만 작동하고 있다.
- Fighting continued intermittently along the border despite the official ceasefire agreement. 尽管签署了正式停火协议,边境沿线仍有零星交火。Los combates continuaron de manera intermitente a lo largo de la frontera pese al acuerdo oficial de alto el fuego.正式な停戦合意にもかかわらず、国境沿いでは散発的な戦闘が続いた。공식 휴전 합의에도 불구하고 국경을 따라 전투가 단속적으로 계속되었다.
- The museum has been open intermittently during the refurbishment, with only the ground floor accessible. 翻修期间博物馆间歇性地开放,仅底层可供参观。El museo ha abierto intermitentemente durante la reforma, con acceso únicamente a la planta baja.改修工事中、博物館は断続的に開館しており、1階のみ見学可能だった。보수 공사 기간 동안 박물관은 간헐적으로만 개방되어 1층만 관람할 수 있었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, technical, medical
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin intermittent- (breaking off), from inter- (between) + mittere (to send, let go). The English adverb form became established in the 17th century, initially in medical contexts.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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