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
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
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Lightly coat pork chops with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
—Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Garnish with sprinkles, and let cool completely in pan, about 1 hour.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprinkle
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Verb
The younger two brothers float paper boats in the kitchen sink and Jeremy plays along, sprinkling flour on their heads—but making the kitchen a total mess.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Lightly coat pork chops with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
—Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
But while the unpredictable weather can definitely present a challenge, that mixed bag of sunshine and sprinkles can also translate into an opportunity to get creative with your spring wardrobe.
—Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Garnish with sprinkles, and let cool completely in pan, about 1 hour.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprinkle
Cite this Entry
“Sprinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprinkle. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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