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
Marchers circled the courthouse in Lafayette where speeches interspersed with music could be heard later from a nearby park.
—
IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Several other awards were also handed out at the ceremony, which was interspersed with a concert by the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
The minimally landscaped areas immediately around the house quickly give way to the arid landscape, the spiny shrubs and Joshua trees interspersed with several sculptures set against the undulating shadow lines of the distant mountains.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Politico counted 251 instances of derogatory insults in the group chat, interspersed with logistical conversations about social media strategies and collecting votes.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
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IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Several other awards were also handed out at the ceremony, which was interspersed with a concert by the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
The minimally landscaped areas immediately around the house quickly give way to the arid landscape, the spiny shrubs and Joshua trees interspersed with several sculptures set against the undulating shadow lines of the distant mountains.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Politico counted 251 instances of derogatory insults in the group chat, interspersed with logistical conversations about social media strategies and collecting votes.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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