sprinkle

1 of 2

verb

sprin·​kle ˈspriŋ-kəl 

sprinkled; sprinkling ˈspriŋ-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to scatter in drops or particles

2

a

: to scatter over

b

: to scatter at intervals in or among : dot

sprinkled the speech with quips

c

: to wet lightly

intransitive verb

1

: to scatter a liquid in fine drops

2

: to rain lightly in scattered drops

sprinkler

ˈspriŋ-k(ə-)lər 

noun

sprinkle

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or an instance of sprinkling

especially : a light rain

2

: sprinkling

3

sprinkles plural : small particles of candy used as a topping (as on ice cream) : jimmies

Synonyms of sprinkle

Verb

• spray
• pepper
• dot

Noun

• rainfall
• drizzle
• precipitation
• mist

Examples of sprinkle in a Sentence

Verb

He sprinkled water on the plants.

I sprinkled grass seed over the soil.

She sprinkled the clothes before ironing them.

“Is it raining?” “It's just sprinkling a little.”

Noun

It rained last night, but it was just a sprinkle.

She topped the pasta with a sprinkle of parsley.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Position the seeds about 2 to 3 inches apart, or speed up planting by blending the carrot seeds with fine sand or potting mix and sprinkling the mixture lightly and evenly along a planting row. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026

For those who love its fresh, citrusy flavor, this culinary herb is a must sprinkled on tacos, mixed into fresh salsa, and stirred into sauces. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

Noun

White chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles make every bite a party. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026

Despite a few sprinkles and overcast skies, thousands of area residents turned out for the 17th annual Fleadh Day Saturday in Oak Forest. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sprenklen, sprinclen; akin to Middle High German spreckel, sprenkel spot

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for sprinkle

• crinkle
• tinkle
• twinkle
• winkle
• wrinkle
• periwinkle

Kids Definition

sprinkle

1 of 2 verb

sprin·​kle ˈspriŋ-kəl 

sprinkled; sprinkling -k(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to scatter in drops or particles

sprinkle water

sprinkle grass seed over the soil

2

a

: to scatter over or in or among

sprinkle the spaghetti with grated cheese

b

: to wet lightly

sprinkle clothes before ironing

3

: to rain lightly in scattered drops

sprinkler

-k(ə-)lər 

noun

sprinkle

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or an instance of sprinkling

especially : a light rain

2

: sprinkling

Legal Definition

sprinkle

transitive verb

sprin·​kle

sprinkled; sprinkling

: spray