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 spot sees video of Angelou’s reading interspersed with footage of everyday Americans, and once again a few recognizable hosts, with her words serving as the soundtrack.
—
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Scenes of Lee driving Marty to meet an old man who just wants his privacy are interspersed with the scenes of Frank bullying his way through Arthur’s apartment and eventually killing him.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
His video interspersed images of him walking the city with footage of immigration officials arresting people and cited his recent legislation banning federal law enforcement from masking their identities in California and greenlighting denser housing near transit hubs.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Marchers circled the courthouse in Lafayette where speeches interspersed with music could be heard later from a nearby park.
—IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
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Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Scenes of Lee driving Marty to meet an old man who just wants his privacy are interspersed with the scenes of Frank bullying his way through Arthur’s apartment and eventually killing him.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
His video interspersed images of him walking the city with footage of immigration officials arresting people and cited his recent legislation banning federal law enforcement from masking their identities in California and greenlighting denser housing near transit hubs.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Marchers circled the courthouse in Lafayette where speeches interspersed with music could be heard later from a nearby park.
—IndyStar, 20 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 6 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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