intersperse

verb

in·​ter·​sperse ˌin-tər-ˈspərs How to pronounce intersperse (audio)
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 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.

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 In 2023, the theme was dinosaurs; summer flowers were interspersed with dinosaur models and re-creations of fossils. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024 Some detainees carved poems in their cells’ wooden walls, and Ruo interspersed those verses, sung by an ensemble, with spoken sections narrating a dismal history of discrimination. An Epic Set, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2024 Financial text is vastly different from text typically found on the Internet, characterized by financial jargon and legalese, interspersed with numbers, and possessing a distinct linguistic style. Noah Barsky, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Scented candles from La Bagatelle’s collaboration with Martini, the French perfumer, were interspersed among the blooms and silver cutlery, some of it made by Bonne. Ellie Pithers, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Eurasian serotine bats can be recognized by their long smoky-brown fur (with pale yellow-brown underbelly), large triangular ears, and distinctive flight pattern: bouts of flapping interspersed with brief glides. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Nov. 2023 The opera moves back and forward in time, interspersing Thompson’s return to the U.S. with the years of his imprisonment. Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024 Henson provides the voice of Giovanni in the film, reading some of her most iconic poetic works interspersed throughout the feature. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2024 The weather is unpredictable: Record-setting blizzards are interspersed with snow-melting rain. Talia Barrington, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intersperse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of intersperse was in 1566

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Dictionary Entries Near intersperse

Cite this Entry

“Intersperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersperse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intersperse

verb
in·​ter·​sperse ˌint-ər-ˈspərs How to pronounce intersperse (audio)
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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on intersperse

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