intersperse

verb

in·​ter·​sperse ˌin-tər-ˈspərs 

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

ˌin-tər-ˈspər-zhən 

-shən

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.

Synonyms of intersperse

• weave
• combine
• insert
• mix
• incorporate
• salt
• thread

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

From there, the one-minute-and-sixteen-second clip unfolds with a rapid montage of electrifying concert footage, interspersed with candid moments from life on the road. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 26 Mar. 2026

New clips of the Laguners as adults are interspersed with the original opening credits to create a fun then-and-now comparison. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2026

The bustling street scenes and seaside images that open and are interspersed throughout Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36 are not period-movie re-creations. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

In addition to the footage itself, the screening is interspersed with performance art and live music, offering poignant insights into this community’s struggles and opportunities of the broader Calumet Region. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for intersperse

• reimburse
• universe
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse

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Kids 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

interspersion

-ˈspər-zhən 

noun