Intermittent vs. Intermit — What's the Difference?

Intermittent is typically used as an adjective to describe events or states that occur sporadically and not continuously, suggesting a pattern of starting and stopping. Whereas intermit, as a verb, directly refers to the act of stopping or pausing something temporarily and then resuming it later. Both terms involve discontinuity, but intermittent describes the characteristic of such occurrences, while intermit describes the action itself.

When talking about phenomena like rain, one might say the rain was intermittent, indicating it stopped and started at various times throughout the day. On the other hand, one could use intermit to describe what the rain did: "The rain intermitted throughout the afternoon."

In medical or technical contexts, intermittent is often used to describe symptoms or signals that appear and vanish over time, such as intermittent pain or an intermittent signal. Conversely, intermit is less commonly used in these contexts, typically reserved for more general descriptions of pausing or ceasing activities.

Intermittent can apply to abstract concepts as well, such as intermittent fasting, where the fasting occurs periodically, not continuously. In contrast, intermit is usually not used in such complex or specialized practices; it is more straightforward and action-oriented.

While intermittent is more commonly seen and understood in both everyday and professional language, intermit is relatively rare and often appears in more formal or literary contexts, emphasizing the act of interruption rather than the pattern.