episodically

Episodically is an adverb that describes something happening in episodes or in a series of distinct events rather than continuously. It often implies a pattern of interruptions, with intervals of activity separated by quiet or remission.

The word is formed from the adjective episodic, which in turn derives from the noun episode; the suffix -ly marks it as an adverb.

In medical contexts, symptoms described as episodic occur in discrete episodes with intervening periods of relative normalcy. In media and publishing, content described as episodic is released in installments rather than as a single, continuous work. The term can also apply to events, behaviors, or phenomena that recur in separate episodes over time.

Episodically differs from intermittently or periodically in that it foregrounds the episodic nature—the existence of discrete episodes—though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in everyday language. The nuance is most evident when the emphasis is on the structure of the episodes themselves rather than merely the timing of occurrences.

Related terms include episode and episodic, with antonyms such as continuous or constant. The adverb is relatively common in formal and scientific writing, but in everyday language it is used selectively when the speaker wants to highlight a pattern of distinct episodes rather than a steady or regular rhythm.