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
in·ter·spersion
ˌintərˈspər|zhən
təˈspə̄|,
-pəi| British usually & US sometimes shən
plural -s
: the act or fact of interspersing or state of being interspersed: such as
a
: the intermingling of kinds of organisms (as species) within an ecological community
b
: the state or degree of intermingling of one kind of organism with others
certain forbs show a high level of interspersion in grasslands
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
Verb
You should intersperse these pictures evenly throughout the book.
Some seagulls were interspersed among the ducks.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Wilderness Little Kulala is about a 45-minute drive outside the park, located in a seemingly desolate rocky plain with harsh, jagged mountains interspersed throughout the flatlands.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
With seven miles of shoreline, the 892-acre park has plenty of space to explore tidal wetlands interspersed with farmland and upland forests.
—
Simon Davidson,
Travel + Leisure,
19 June 2026
Just pick three or four different solid hues and intersperse as desired.
—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for intersperse
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Verb
Nolan seems to be striving for geographic realism interspersed with violent and fantastic episodes.
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Wilderness Little Kulala is about a 45-minute drive outside the park, located in a seemingly desolate rocky plain with harsh, jagged mountains interspersed throughout the flatlands.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
With seven miles of shoreline, the 892-acre park has plenty of space to explore tidal wetlands interspersed with farmland and upland forests.
—
Simon Davidson,
Travel + Leisure,
19 June 2026
Just pick three or four different solid hues and intersperse as desired.
—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
19 June 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 27 Jun. 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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