sprinkle

1 of 2

verb

sprin·​kle ˈspriŋ-kəl How to pronounce sprinkle (audio)
sprinkled; sprinkling ˈspriŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sprinkle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to scatter in drops or particles
2
a
: to scatter over
b
: to scatter at intervals in or among : dot
sprinkled the speech with quips
c
: to wet lightly

intransitive verb

1
: to scatter a liquid in fine drops
2
: to rain lightly in scattered drops
sprinkler noun

sprinkle

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of sprinkling
especially : a light rain
2
3
sprinkles plural : small particles of candy used as a topping (as on ice cream) : jimmies

Examples of sprinkle in a Sentence

Verb He sprinkled water on the plants. I sprinkled grass seed over the soil. She sprinkled the clothes before ironing them. “Is it raining?” “It's just sprinkling a little.” Noun It rained last night, but it was just a sprinkle. She topped the pasta with a sprinkle of parsley.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Serve Place spaghetti on plate and sprinkle with cheese, then place salmon on top. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024 Performances by the other four nominees in the category were sprinkled throughout the show. Paul Grein, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024 The breadstick dough, a simple but dense monster, was rolled out into sheets, sprinkled with herbs and cheese, then cut and shaped into long, skinny sticks. Yewande Komolafe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 Paint a Picture of Relaxation When you’re done with the sun, stroll the crushed seashell walkways of Pine Avenue sprinkled with coastal chic boutiques, art galleries and cafes. Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 My go-to order is a whole milk latte, a sticky-sweet kouign-amann sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds to eat on the walk back home, and a classic croissant for later. Nikita Richardson, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 An earthenware bowl held half chia pudding and half blue corn grits sprinkled with coconut-pecan granola, corn flour, blue agave syrup and a mix of blueberries and raspberries. The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024 There are tons of other ways to make your oatmeal more interesting and fiber-full, including mixing in some hearty veggies, sprinkling on some nuts, or topping with frozen berries. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024 Plant a few spicy varieties, or just sprinkle a liberal amount of chili powder around the perimeter as a deterrent. Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Top the finished drink with a sprinkle of chia seeds. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 Get The Recipe 23 of 29 Sprinkle Stocking Cookies Use red and green sprinkles to decorate these stockings. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2024 This season, the spring 2024 drop feels more elevated than ever with timeless staples perfect for everyday wear along with a sprinkle of glam for evening festivities. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024 Transfer the squash to a platter flesh side up, then top with the chickpeas, some of the ginger yogurt and a sprinkle of marjoram leaves. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 The pre-birthday festivities also featured some b-day cake, this time with funfetti sprinkles and tall candles. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2024 The drink is garnished with fresh lime zest and a sprinkle of whole pink peppercorns. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 Huge Rice Krispies treats ($2.50), moist and tantalizing, were topped with sprinkles and irresistible to my 10-year-old, while an oversize chocolate-chip cookie ($2) was snapped up for the more straightforward dessert eater. Anna Caplan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Louisville weather forecast Friday: A chance of sprinkles before 1 p.m., then rain showers likely between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., then rain and snow showers after 5 p.m. High near 45 degrees. The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprinkle.' 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

Verb

Middle English sprenklen, sprinclen; akin to Middle High German spreckel, sprenkel spot

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprinkle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sprinkle

Cite this Entry

“Sprinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprinkle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sprinkle

1 of 2 verb
sprin·​kle ˈspriŋ-kəl How to pronounce sprinkle (audio)
sprinkled; sprinkling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sprinkle (audio)
1
: to scatter in drops or particles
sprinkle water
sprinkle grass seed over the soil
2
a
: to scatter over or in or among
sprinkle the spaghetti with grated cheese
b
: to wet lightly
sprinkle clothes before ironing
3
: to rain lightly in scattered drops
sprinkler noun

sprinkle

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act or an instance of sprinkling
especially : a light rain
2

Legal Definition

sprinkle

transitive verb
sprin·​kle
sprinkled; sprinkling
: spray

More from Merriam-Webster on sprinkle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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