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
These inspirational moments were interspersed with brutally harsh attacks on the Democrats in the chamber.
—
Jonathan Karl, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu guides me from a pitch-black hallway into an open space, where beams of light and smoke, interspersed with sounds from the streets of Mexico City, create a vortex into a unique cinematic experience.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In sequences interspersed in the film, Bean and Rozos converse in a kind of fort-like structure erected in a room.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
These speeches are interspersed throughout the show, between the other categories — like Commercial, Sports, Documentary Film, etc.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
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Jonathan Karl, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu guides me from a pitch-black hallway into an open space, where beams of light and smoke, interspersed with sounds from the streets of Mexico City, create a vortex into a unique cinematic experience.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In sequences interspersed in the film, Bean and Rozos converse in a kind of fort-like structure erected in a room.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
These speeches are interspersed throughout the show, between the other categories — like Commercial, Sports, Documentary Film, etc.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
Cite this Entry
“Intersperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersperse. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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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