intersperse

verb

in·​ter·​sperse ˌin-tər-ˈspərs 

interspersed; interspersing

transitive verb

1

: to insert at intervals among other things

interspersing drawings throughout the text

2

: to place something at intervals in or among

intersperse a book with pictures

interspersion

ˌin-tər-ˈspər-zhən 

-shən

noun

Did you know?

Intersperse comes from Latin interspersus, a combination of the prefix inter- ("between or among") and sparsus, the past participle of spargere, meaning "to scatter." Sparsus is also the source of sparse.

Synonyms

• interlace
• interweave
• lace
• salt
• thread
• weave
• wreathe

Examples of intersperse in a Sentence

You should intersperse these pictures evenly throughout the book.

Some seagulls were interspersed among the ducks.

Recent Examples on the Web

This spirit even extends to the bathrooms, where the walls have bright colors interspersed with text from Winnie the Pooh books. —Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024

Tech lawsuits are often obscure even to techies, interspersed with bizarre software terminology that is pretty much meaningless outside of a court of law. —Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 22 Mar. 2024

Only a year ago the little gray and yellow house on 35th Place was nestled among similar early 20th century homes interspersed with a few postwar apartments. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024

The exhibition intersperses the eight Loops and seven Circles, placing them in conversation. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

Another trip planner, Sisters Getaway, offers retreats complete with yoga and creative writing sessions that are interspersed with excursions. —Sarah Shaffi, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024

These tracking shots are often interspersed with meditative images of the natural world around him, an homage to filmmaker Terrance Malick, whom, along with Gus Van Sant, Nash cites as an inspiration. —Mike Miller, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2024

Advertisement The timeline is contained to a heady period between 1976 and 1978, interspersed with flashbacks and fantasy — a perfectly fine approach, even if the film feels edited within an inch of its life and structurally incoherent at times. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024

The inexplicable twists are interspersed with puerile action scenes. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin interspersus interspersed, from inter- + sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

intersperse

verb

in·​ter·​sperse ˌint-ər-ˈspərs 

interspersed; interspersing

1

: to set here and there among other things

intersperse pictures in a book

2

: to vary with things inserted here and there

interspersed the photo album with her poetry

interspersion

-ˈspər-zhən 

noun