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.
On the side, there’s a salad of carrots, onions and peppers, a perfect scoop of white rice and a sprinkling of herbs. Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025 Nonetheless, his asking out Brooks’s sister Chloe is the perfect sprinkling of drama to kick this show off. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 4 June 2025 Generously season with black pepper and, if using, light sprinkling of flaky sea salt. Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 30 May 2025 And so, interspersed with the personal and social vignettes, there is a sprinkling of debaters’ points and soundbites. Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 May 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 9 Jul. 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

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