sprinkling

noun

sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ How to pronounce sprinkling (audio)
1
: a limited quantity or amount : modicum
2
: a small quantity falling in scattered drops or particles
3
: a small number distributed at random : scattering

Examples of sprinkling in a Sentence

a sprinkling of fans showed up at the airport just a sprinkling of experience with the computer program
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As reported, the brand won’t stage a runway show until March 2026, with the September presentation intended more as a reminder of Gucci’s foundations, to be accompanied by a sprinkling of see now, buy now products in stores. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025 There’s something about the 1960s cultural aesthetics and hyper-realism to the sci-fi and action sequences that reminds me of the movie The Right Stuff crossed with a heavy dash of Interstellar and an aesthetic sprinkling of the streaming series Fallout. Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025 Finish with drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of sea salt. Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025 Switzerland fans, along with a sprinkling of Wales fans, buffered the gaps. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sprinkling

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprinkling was in 1561

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sprinkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprinkling. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

sprinkling

noun
sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ How to pronounce sprinkling (audio)
: a very small number or amount

More from Merriam-Webster on sprinkling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!