sprin·kle
ˈspriŋ-kəl 
sprinkled; sprinkling
ˈspriŋ-k(ə-)liŋ
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
Synonyms
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
Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Immediately sprinkle half of the salt, pepper and smoked paprika on eggs.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
During the last 10 minutes of cooking, sprinkle with sugar, and stir in apple slices.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
What if the dataset behind the chat interface was physical reality itself, captured in real time by interpreting the input of billions of sensors sprinkled around the globe?
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Top with sauce and chicken and shrimp mixture and sprinkle with basil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Then to take it over the top, sprinkle on a brown sugar-walnut streusel and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
13 of 14
Chocolate-Banana Donuts
View Recipe
Feel good about diving into these decadent chocolate donuts.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2024
Whisk light corn syrup with a bit of water, brush into indents, and sprinkle on colored sugar.
—Laura Fenton, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Hot pickled peppers are sprinkled on top for a delicious kick.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Just before serving, top each with a sprinkle of edible flowers.
14 of 18
Tea Party Dessert: Lavender-Honey Lemon Tart
View Recipe
Serve up a showstopping dessert for your Mother's Day tea.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
The eclipse special consists of an original glazed doughnut dipped in black chocolate icing and topped with silver sprinkles, buttercream frosting, Oreo pieces and a whole Oreo cookie on top.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Serve with toast or eat as is, with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
It is then topped with silver sprinkles and Oreo buttercream.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
The doughnut is an Original Glazed Doughnut dipped in black chocolate icing, adorned with silver sprinkles, piped with a buttercream made with Oreo pieces, and features a whole Oreo cookie in the center, according to Krispy Kreme.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The candy maker's concoction involves giving a Chips Ahoy cookie a creamy white bottom, topping it with chewy caramel and covering it in dark chocolate and galaxy sprinkles.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Under a partnership announced Tuesday, Krispy Kreme will deliver three versions of its donuts — glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles and chocolate iced with a cream filling — to McDonald's locations each morning.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
The remaining potato mixture is smoothed on top of that, and then sprinkled with either matzoh meal (for Passover) or breadcrumbs (for any other occasion), which have been tossed with a bit of oil.
—Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Immediately sprinkle half of the salt, pepper and smoked paprika on eggs.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
During the last 10 minutes of cooking, sprinkle with sugar, and stir in apple slices.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
What if the dataset behind the chat interface was physical reality itself, captured in real time by interpreting the input of billions of sensors sprinkled around the globe?
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Top with sauce and chicken and shrimp mixture and sprinkle with basil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Then to take it over the top, sprinkle on a brown sugar-walnut streusel and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
13 of 14
Chocolate-Banana Donuts
View Recipe
Feel good about diving into these decadent chocolate donuts.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2024
Whisk light corn syrup with a bit of water, brush into indents, and sprinkle on colored sugar.
—Laura Fenton, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Hot pickled peppers are sprinkled on top for a delicious kick.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
The glazed doughnut comes dipped in black chocolate icing and is topped with silver sprinkles, buttercream made with Oreos, and an Oreo cookie.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Just before serving, top each with a sprinkle of edible flowers.
14 of 18
Tea Party Dessert: Lavender-Honey Lemon Tart
View Recipe
Serve up a showstopping dessert for your Mother's Day tea.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
The eclipse special consists of an original glazed doughnut dipped in black chocolate icing and topped with silver sprinkles, buttercream frosting, Oreo pieces and a whole Oreo cookie on top.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Serve with toast or eat as is, with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
It is then topped with silver sprinkles and Oreo buttercream.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
The doughnut is an Original Glazed Doughnut dipped in black chocolate icing, adorned with silver sprinkles, piped with a buttercream made with Oreo pieces, and features a whole Oreo cookie in the center, according to Krispy Kreme.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The candy maker's concoction involves giving a Chips Ahoy cookie a creamy white bottom, topping it with chewy caramel and covering it in dark chocolate and galaxy sprinkles.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Under a partnership announced Tuesday, Krispy Kreme will deliver three versions of its donuts — glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles and chocolate iced with a cream filling — to McDonald's locations each morning.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprinkle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of sprinkle was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near sprinkle
Cite this Entry
“Sprinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprinkle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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
sprinkle
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or an instance of sprinkling
especially
: a light rain
2
Legal Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on sprinkle
Nglish: Translation of sprinkle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sprinkle for Arabic Speakers
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