intermediate

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

at a level that falls between the starting stage and the expert stage within a structured learning system or progression of steps

Example

After finishing the beginner course, Leo signed up for an intermediate yoga class.

collocation: intermediate + noun (class, course, level)

The textbook is designed for intermediate learners of Arabic who already know basic grammar.

collocation: intermediate + learners

Common collocations

intermediate level
intermediate course
intermediate class
intermediate learner
intermediate student
intermediate stage
intermediate step

Synonyms

middle
More general; 'middle' can refer to a physical central position, whereas 'intermediate' implies a step in a progression.
medium
Describes size or degree rather than position in a sequence; 'medium coffee' is not the same as 'intermediate coffee'.

Antonyms

beginner
The starting level below intermediate.
advanced
The level above intermediate; implies mastery.

Grammar Patterns

intermediate + noun

be + intermediate + between + noun phrase

Usage Note

Most often used attributively before nouns like 'level', 'class', 'course', or 'student'. Frequently appears in a three-level scale alongside 'beginner/elementary' and 'advanced'.

Common Mistakes

I am intermediate in Korean.

I am at an intermediate level in Korean.

use 'at an intermediate level' rather than directly calling yourself 'intermediate'.

This is an intermediate-hard problem.

This is an intermediate-level problem.

avoid hyphenating with another adjective; use 'intermediate-level' as a compound modifier.

1.nounB2

Definition

a person who has reached a middle stage of skill or knowledge in a particular subject, between a complete beginner and an expert

Example

The language school places beginners, intermediates, and advanced speakers in separate groups.

plural: intermediates as a group

Folake joined a workshop for intermediates who already knew the basics of web design.

Common collocations

beginners, intermediates, and advanced
an intermediate in
workshop for intermediates
class for intermediates

Synonyms

middle-level learner
Descriptive phrase rather than a single word, but expresses the same idea more clearly.

Antonyms

beginner
Someone at the starting skill level.
expert
Someone with advanced mastery of a subject.

Grammar Patterns

an + intermediate

the + intermediate + of

Usage Note

Less common in everyday speech than the adjective form. When talking about people's skill levels, 'an intermediate learner' or 'at an intermediate level' sounds more natural than calling someone 'an intermediate'.

Common Mistakes

She is intermediate in cooking.

She is an intermediate cook.' or 'She is at an intermediate level in cooking.

use the adjective with a noun or 'at an intermediate level' phrasing.

2.nounC1

Definition

a person who communicates between two groups or individuals to help them reach an agreement or resolve a disagreement

Example

The UN appointed an intermediate to facilitate talks between the warring factions.

appointed + an + intermediate + to + infinitive

Minho acted as an intermediate between the striking factory workers and the management board.

act as + an + intermediate + between

Common collocations

act as an intermediate
appoint an intermediate
intermediate between parties
trusted intermediate
neutral intermediate

Synonyms

mediator
More common and less formal than 'intermediate'; implies an active role in proposing solutions.
go-between
Informal; someone who carries messages without necessarily facilitating agreement.
arbitrator
More formal; someone who makes binding judgments, not just facilitates.

Grammar Patterns

act as + an + intermediate + between

Usage Note

More formal than 'go-between' but less formal than 'arbitrator'. Unlike 'arbitrator', an intermediate does not make binding decisions — they only facilitate communication.

Common Mistakes

He intermediated the dispute' (verb used in place of the noun).

He acted as an intermediate in the dispute.

use 'act as an intermediate' as a noun phrase.

3.nounC1

Definition

a substance that forms during a chemical reaction and is later used as a starting material to produce a more complex final product

Example

The chemist isolated the intermediate before it could react with other compounds in the mixture.

passive: isolate the intermediate

This intermediate is then combined with a catalyst to produce the final pharmaceutical drug.

Common collocations

chemical intermediate
reaction intermediate
isolate the intermediate
short-lived intermediate
synthetic intermediate
pharmaceutical intermediate

Synonyms

reaction intermediate
More specific; emphasises that the compound is created and consumed within a single reaction sequence.
precursor
A compound that comes before the final product but is not necessarily created during the reaction itself.

Grammar Patterns

intermediate + in + noun phrase

intermediate + for + noun phrase

Usage Note

A technical term in chemistry and biochemistry. In industrial chemistry, intermediates are often commercially valuable compounds themselves, sold to other manufacturers for further processing.

Common Mistakes

This is an intermediate product' (vague — could mean a product of average quality).

This is a chemical intermediate used in drug synthesis.

in chemistry contexts, specify that it is a 'chemical intermediate' or 'reaction intermediate'.

1.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to step into a disagreement or difference of opinion between two people or groups in order to help them find a solution

Example

A professional mediator was called in to intermediate between the union and the employer.

intermediate + between + [party] + and + [party]

Kian tried to intermediate when two team members could not agree on the project deadline.

Common collocations

intermediate between
intermediate in
intermediate in a dispute
try to intermediate
call in someone to intermediate

Synonyms

mediate
More common and less formal; 'mediate' is used far more often in both speech and writing.
intervene
Broader meaning — can be to stop a fight, change a situation, or step in for any reason, not just to resolve a dispute.

Antonyms

ignore
To deliberately pay no attention to a conflict rather than stepping in.

Grammar Patterns

intermediate + between + noun phrase + and + noun phrase

Usage Note

Formal and less common than 'mediate' in everyday English. The pattern 'intermediate between X and Y' is the most frequent syntactic frame. Almost always intransitive — the direct object is not the dispute itself but the parties.

Common Mistakes

The manager intermediated the conflict.

The manager intermediated between the two departments during the conflict.

'intermediate' is intransitive; do not use a direct object for the conflict or issue.

2.verbintransitiveC2

Definition

to act as a messenger or link between people or groups who find it difficult to communicate directly, passing information in both directions

Example

The aid worker had to intermediate between the refugees and the government agencies providing supplies.

intermediate + between + [group A] + and + [group B]

Stefan spent months intermediating between the research team and the local farming community.

progressive aspect: spent + [time] + intermediating

Common collocations

intermediate between
spend time intermediating
tasked with intermediating
intermediate between groups

Synonyms

liaise
Much more common in modern English, especially British English; 'liaise between departments' is standard.
act as a go-between
An idiomatic phrase that covers the same meaning in everyday language.

Grammar Patterns

intermediate + between + noun phrase + and + noun phrase

Usage Note

Distinguish from verb sense 1 (INTERVENE): this sense emphasises relaying information rather than stepping in to resolve a disagreement. The person acts as a channel of communication, not a problem-solver. Rare in modern English — 'liaise' (British) or 'act as a go-between' are far more common.

Common Mistakes

She intermediated the information from one team to another.

She intermediated between the two teams, passing information in both directions.

do not use 'intermediate' with a direct object for the information; use 'between' to name the parties.

Word family

intermediately
adverbC1
intermediary
nounC1
intermediary
adjectiveC1
intermediation
nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These five words all describe something that is not at either extreme of a scale, but they differ in how they are used. 'Intermediate' (B1) is the most specific when describing a stage in a progression or sequence — especially in education, skill levels, and processes ('an intermediate course', 'an intermediate step'). 'Middle' (A2) is broader and more common in everyday speech; it can describe a physical position ('the middle shelf'), a rank, or a point in time ('the middle of the night'), but it does not carry the sense of a structured sequence. 'Medium' (A1) refers to size, degree, or intensity rather than position in a progression ('a medium coffee', 'medium heat'). 'Moderate' (B2) focuses on the idea of 'not extreme' in amount, intensity, or opinion ('moderate prices', 'a moderate political view') and is often used in formal or evaluative contexts. 'Midway' (B2) emphasises the exact halfway point between two reference points, often physical or temporal ('midway through the game'). For learners, a useful rule: use 'intermediate' when describing a structured level between beginner and advanced; use 'medium' for size or strength; use 'middle' for general central positions; use 'moderate' for reasonable, not-excessive amounts; and use 'midway' only when you mean 'exactly halfway'.

intermediate ↗middle ↗medium ↗moderate ↗midway

Common collocations

Nouns

intermediate level
intermediate stage
intermediate step
intermediate course
intermediate class
intermediate student
intermediate learner

Adverbs

roughly intermediate
somewhere intermediate

Phrases

intermediate between X and Y
at an intermediate level
beginners, intermediates, and advanced

Prepositions

intermediate between

Etymology

LatinLate LatinEnglish

The word 'intermediate' comes from Latin 'intermedius', formed from 'inter-' meaning 'between' and 'medius' meaning 'middle'. In Late Latin it became 'intermediatus' ('placed between'), and then entered English in the early 1600s as an adjective describing something that lies in the middle of a sequence or scale. The noun and verb forms followed over the next two centuries, with the chemical sense emerging in the 1800s during the development of modern organic chemistry.

intermediate

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Synonym discussion

Common collocations

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Etymology

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intermediate

intermediate — adjective

1. at a level that falls between the starting stage and the expert stage within a s

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

intermediate — noun

1. a person who has reached a middle stage of skill or knowledge in a particular su

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a person who communicates between two groups or individuals to help them reach a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a substance that forms during a chemical reaction and is later used as a startin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

intermediate — verb

1. to step into a disagreement or difference of opinion between two people or group

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to act as a messenger or link between people or groups who find it difficult to

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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