Meaning & use

intermittent fasting

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌɪntəˌmɪtənt ˈfɑːstɪŋ/
US/ˌɪntɚˌmɪtənt ˈfæstɪŋ/

Meaning

  1. noununcountable

    An eating pattern in which a person regularly alternates between periods of eating normally and periods of eating little or nothing.

    Grammar: No an and no plural: she practices intermittent fasting.

    Patterns

    • try intermittent fasting
    • intermittent fasting for something

    He tried intermittent fasting, eating only between noon and eight.

    Some studies suggest intermittent fasting may help with weight control.

    Intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone.

Common combinations

practice intermittent fasting
My sister practices intermittent fasting on weekdays.
try intermittent fasting
I want to try intermittent fasting for a month.
intermittent fasting plan
The nutritionist wrote me an intermittent fasting plan.
benefits of intermittent fasting
They discussed the benefits of intermittent fasting.
intermittent fasting window
Her intermittent fasting window closes at eight each evening.

Synonyms and how they differ

time-restricted eating
Describes limiting meals to certain hours each day, one common form of intermittent fasting but not the only one.
fasting
Is broader and can mean one long period without food for religious or medical reasons, not a repeated pattern.
dieting
Is about cutting calories in general, whereas intermittent fasting is about when you eat.

Opposites

Word family

intermittent adjective
stopping and starting at intervals
intermittently adverb
on and off, not continuously
fast verb
to go without food
fasting noun
the act of not eating

Commonly confused: intermittent fasting or intermittent?

intermittent fasting vs intermittent

It is often misspelled with one t or one m; remember the double t and double m pairs.

Practice

A person doing intermittent fasting ____.

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