sprinkling

noun

sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ 

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

Synonyms

• couple
• few
• handful
• scatter
• scattering
• smatter
• smattering
• sprinkle

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

When the daily decided to take a walk back in time to celebrate 50 years of Women’s Fashion Industries on Aug. 15, 1950, a look at the Easter Parade and fashion trends of the day was included, noting that the parade had grown from a sprinkling of 400 people to over 4 million. —Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Apr. 2025

Vessel’s proposal in Newtown also hit a sprinkling of public opposition, and planners voted 3-2 against the project. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025

A week of wet and windy weather wasn’t enough to put off buyers, who flocked to various events and meetings, while MIP London offered a sprinkling of star power through David Beckham, who talked about his underwear. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025

Then, as is usual here, the cast contains a sprinkling of musical-theater aces: Greg Hildreth, a pro at welding smarm and actual charm, strolls out as our narrator, the cheerily authoritarian Office Lockstock. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for sprinkling

• crinkling
• inkling

Kids Definition

sprinkling

noun

sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ 

: a very small number or amount