Standard Lemma guide

fitfully

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F IH1 T F AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a fitful manner; irregularly or unsteadily.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He slept fitfully, plagued by bad dreams and a persistent cough.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in fits and starts, fitfully, discontinuously, intermittently, patchily, spasmodically, sporadically

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a fitful manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he slept fitfully

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English fitful Middle English -ly English -ly English fitfully From fitful + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: су́дорожно (súdorožno) — in a fitful manner
  • Spanish: irregularmente — in a fitful manner