intersperse
verb
in·ter·sperse
ˌin-tər-ˈspərs 
interspersed; interspersing
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
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
The surreal result is a representation of a chronological inbox that has Quora and Flipboard email blasts interspersed with exchanges with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and winking emails to Steve Bannon.
—
Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Her work, which is interspersed throughout the exhibition, suggests a quietly insistent lineage for the more forthright work on view by artists of recent decades.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
Quick shots of the games are interspersed with glimpses of younger versions of familiar characters like Haymitch (Joseph Zada), Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons), and Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning).
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 2025
The film is composed largely of that security footage interspersed with home video of Maryam’s childhood.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
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Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Her work, which is interspersed throughout the exhibition, suggests a quietly insistent lineage for the more forthright work on view by artists of recent decades.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
Quick shots of the games are interspersed with glimpses of younger versions of familiar characters like Haymitch (Joseph Zada), Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons), and Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning).
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 2025
The film is composed largely of that security footage interspersed with home video of Maryam’s childhood.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
Cite this Entry
“Intersperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersperse. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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