1. in an uneven or irregular manner; inconsistently across different areas or parts

Examples

• The paint was applied patchily, leaving some areas thicker than others.
• Her knowledge of history was patchily distributed across different time periods.
• The grass grew patchily in the shaded areas of the yard.
• The internet connection worked patchily throughout the day.
• The student’s performance was patchily successful across different subjects.
• Snow fell patchily across the region, with some towns getting heavy accumulation while others saw none.