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by fits and starts

fit
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [fit]
    • /fɪt/
    • /baɪ fɪts ənd stɑːts/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [fit]
    • /fɪt/

Definitions of by fits and starts words

  • noun by fits and starts spasmodically; without concerted effort 3
  • noun by fits and starts a sudden, acute attack or manifestation of a disease, especially one marked by convulsions or unconsciousness: a fit of epilepsy. 1
  • noun by fits and starts an onset, spell, or period of emotion, feeling, inclination, activity, etc.: a fit of anger; a fit of weeping. 1
  • idioms by fits and starts by / in fits and starts, at irregular intervals; intermittently: This radio works by fits and starts. 1
  • idioms by fits and starts throw a fit, to become extremely excited or angry: Your father will throw a fit when he hears what you have done. 1
See all 5 definitions of by fits and starts

Information block about the term

Origin of by fits and starts

First appearance:

before 1000
One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English; Old English fitt round of fighting. See fit3

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for By fits and starts

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of By fits and starts

by fits and starts popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

by fits and starts usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for by fits and starts

adv by fits and starts

  • haphazardly — in a haphazard manner; at random.
  • fitfully — coming, appearing, acting, etc., in fits or by spells; recurring irregularly.
  • infrequently — happening or occurring at long intervals or rarely: infrequent visits.
  • sporadically — (of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional: sporadic renewals of enthusiasm.
  • unevenly — not level or flat; rough; rugged: The wheels bumped and jolted over the uneven surface.

adj by fits and starts

  • gradual — taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little: gradual improvement in health.
  • by degrees — If something happens by degrees, it happens slowly and gradually.
  • fragmentary — consisting of or reduced to fragments; broken; disconnected; incomplete: fragmentary evidence; fragmentary remains.
  • gradually — taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little: gradual improvement in health.
  • intermittent — stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again: an intermittent pain.
All 35 Synonyms of by fits and starts

Antonyms for by fits and starts

adv by fits and starts

  • break even — to attain a level of activity, as in commerce, or a point of operation, as in gambling, at which there is neither profit nor loss
  • regularly — at regular times or intervals.
All 2 Antonyms of by fits and starts

See also

Matching words

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