Intermediate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət/ (adjective) /ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt/ (verb) in·ter·me·di·ate

Meaning & Definition of Intermediate

Intermediate (adjective)

  1. being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes
  2. of or relating to an intermediate school

Intermediate (noun)

  1. one that is intermediate
  2. mediator, go-between
  3. a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products

Intermediate (verb)

  1. intervene, interpose
  2. to act as an intermediate

Intermediate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being about midway between extremes of amount or size

    "with a compact being too small and a van too large, we settled on an intermediate-sized sedan"

    similar: average, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest
    related: reasonable, common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, passable, tolerable
    near: excessive, extreme, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private

  2. occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes

    "although the party activists tend to back candidates with somewhat extreme views, ordinary voters generally prefer the intermediate aspirant"

    similar: central, halfway, intermediary, medial, median, mediate, medium, mid, middle, midmost
    related: equidistant, inmost, inner, innermost, nearest, betwixt and between, borderline, gray, in-between
    opposite: extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, utmost
    near: outer, peripheral

Intermediate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement

    "she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother"

    similar: broker, buffer, conciliator, go-between, honest broker, interceder, intercessor, intermediary, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker
    related: troubleshooter, moderator, bargainer, negotiant, negotiator, appeaser, pacificator, pacifier, reconciler, agent, attorney, deputy, factor, procurator, proxy, liaison, medium, ambassador, emissary, envoy, legate, messenger, delegate, representative, busybody, interferer, meddler, arbiter, arbitrator, judge, referee, umpire, adviser, counselor

Intermediate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to act as a go-between for opposing sides

    "if the secretary-general chooses to intermediate in this dispute, he'll need all of his diplomatic skills just to get both sides in the same room"

    similar: intercede, interpose, intervene, mediate
    related: butt in, interfere, intrude, meddle, obtrude, pry, snoop, arbitrate, moderate, negotiate, referee, barge (in), bother, break (in), chime in, cut in, infringe, invade, trespass
    near: stand by, avoid, eschew, shun, disregard, ignore, overlook

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intermediate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intermediate:

average, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest, central, halfway, intermediary, medial, mediate, mid, midmost, broker, buffer, conciliator, go-between, honest broker, interceder, intercessor, interposer, mediator, middleman, peacemaker, intercede, interpose, intervene

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intermediate

Words with the opposite meaning of Intermediate:

extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, utmost

Related Words for Intermediate

reasonable, common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, passable, tolerable, equidistant, inmost, inner, innermost, nearest, betwixt and between, borderline, gray, in-between, troubleshooter, moderator, bargainer, negotiant, negotiator, appeaser, pacificator

Near Antonyms of Intermediate

excessive, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private, outer, peripheral, stand by, avoid, eschew, shun, disregard, ignore, overlook

Word Forms of Intermediate

Inflections: intermediated, intermediating, intermediates

Derived words: intermediately (adverb), intermediateness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Intermediate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intermediatus, from Latin intermedius, from inter- + medius mid, middle mid

First known use: 1623

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Intermediate

Words & Phrases Containing Intermediate

intermediate host, intermediate school, intermediate vector boson

Frequently Asked Questions about Intermediate

What does "Intermediate" mean?

"Intermediate" means being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intermediate"?

Other words for "Intermediate" include average, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize and moderate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intermediate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intermediate"?

There are 103 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intermediate". Common alternatives include average, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize, moderate, modest and central.

What is the opposite of "Intermediate"?

Antonyms of "Intermediate" include extreme, farthest, farthermost, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost and remotest. Near antonyms include excessive, exceptional, rare and strange.

How do you use "Intermediate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intermediate" in a sentence: "with a compact being too small and a van too large, we settled on an intermediate-sized sedan"; "although the party activists tend to back candidates with somewhat extreme views, ordinary voters generally prefer the intermediate aspirant"; "she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother".

Is "Intermediate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intermediate" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Intermediate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Intermediate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Intermediate"?

"Intermediate" is pronounced /ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət/ as an adjective and /ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as in·ter·me·di·ate.