sprinkle
Americanverb (used with object)
-
sprinkles,
present (3rd person singular)
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sprinkled,
past participle, past
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sprinkling
present participle
-
to scatter (a liquid, powder, etc.) in drops or particles.
She sprinkled sugar on the cake.
- Synonyms:
- rain, scatter, distribute
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to disperse or distribute here and there.
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to overspread with drops or particles of water, powder, or the like.
to sprinkle a lawn.
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to diversify or intersperse with objects scattered here and there.
verb (used without object)
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sprinkles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sprinkled,
past participle, past
-
sprinkling
present participle
-
to scatter or disperse liquid, a powder, etc., in drops or particles.
-
to be sprinkled.
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to rain slightly (often used impersonally with it as subject).
It may sprinkle this evening.
noun
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sprinkles
plural
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the act or an instance of sprinkling.
-
Usually sprinkles. small particles of chocolate, candy, sugar, etc., used as a decorative topping for cookies, cakes, ice-cream cones, and the like.
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a light rain.
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a small quantity or number.
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a small party given to celebrate a mother-to-be or bride-to-be as an alternative to a larger bridal or baby shower.
We decided to skip the big baby shower and just have a sprinkle this time.
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Archaic. something used for sprinkling.
a holy-water sprinkle.
verb
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to scatter (liquid, powder, etc) in tiny particles or droplets over (something)
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(tr) to distribute over (something)
the field was sprinkled with flowers
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(intr) to drizzle slightly
noun
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the act or an instance of sprinkling or a quantity that is sprinkled
-
a slight drizzle
Synonym Usage
Sprinkle, scatter, strew mean to fling, spread, or disperse. To sprinkle means to fling about small drops or particles: to sprinkle water on clothes, powder on plants. To scatter is to disperse or spread widely: to scatter seeds. To strew is to scatter, especially in such a way as to cover or partially cover a surface: to strew flowers on a grave.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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resprinkleverb
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intersprinkleverb (used with object)
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presprinkleverb (used with object)
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unsprinkledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sprinklesimple
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sprinklessimple
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have sprinkledperfect
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has sprinkledperfect
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am sprinklingprogressive
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are sprinklingprogressive
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is sprinklingprogressive
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have been sprinklingperfect progressive
-
has been sprinklingperfect progressive
Past
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sprinkledsimple
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had sprinkledperfect
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was sprinklingprogressive
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were sprinklingprogressive
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had been sprinklingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sprinkle
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb sprenklen; cognate with Dutch sprenkelen, German sprenkeln; akin to Old English sprengan “to sprinkle, make (something) spring, scatter,” causative of springan “to spring”; see spring
Explanation
A sprinkle is a light shower of something, often water. It’s also a verb that means to gently scatter something. A sprinkle of snow won’t cause school to close, but a sprinkle of fairy dust could transport you to a magical land. When there’s a sprinkle of rain, you should bring an umbrella just in case it turns into a downpour. A sprinkler causes a sprinkle of water to fall on the flowerbeds, and if it’s really hot, it can be fun to play under. At the Memorial Day parade, the firefighters might sprinkle confetti over the crowd — and if you’re lucky, they’ll sprinkle candy, too. Speaking of candy, a sprinkle is also a tiny treat often sprinkled on your ice cream.
Vocabulary lists containing sprinkle
Raining Cats and Dogs
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National Cookie Day
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Pour it in a pretty bottle, sprinkle some social-media buzz and you have a product that’s as much about joining a cultural moment as it is about the water itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Full of pace and dynamism with Luis Diaz as a sprinkle of stardust.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
It’s also his first record sung predominantly in Spanish — along with the occasional sprinkle of English and Korean.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
During a red alert -- the highest level -- the ministry advises people to eat light, stay indoors in the hottest parts of the day and sprinkle themselves with cool water.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
A sprinkle of freckles crossed the bridge of her nose.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Her name was her brand, and so, too, was her profile: the full bosom and tiny waist, platinum wig and baubles like sprinkles on an ice cream cone, 5 feet tall standing in five-inch heels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
As a young numbat scoffs his breakfast – custard with "termite sprinkles" – at Perth Zoo, a keeper explains how this stud's upcoming release at Dryandra will help boost genetic diversity.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Knicks Fever has also upended the city’s food scene, causing a run on blue-and-orange dyes, sprinkles and other decorative instruments of culinary science.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Others suggest jazzing up plain pizza with sprinkles of oregano, red pepper flakes and umami seasoning.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
“It’s a little something to make this special day extra special. Like sprinkles on an ice cream sundae.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
In their parkway, too, Novack and Aggrey have sprinkled seeds from about two dozen native wildflowers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Paintings by Rembrandt and from his studio are sprinkled throughout.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
People sprinkled cat litter, got mats out of their own vehicles to place under the tires.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
The case came to light after officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found reviews that diners had posted online with photographs of dishes sprinkled with ants.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Spread across it was a sliced ham, warm applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon, hot corn bread, and green beans.
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
This is how you prevent the flat, powdery taste that comes from sprinkling seasoning over finished sauce.
From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2026
"The star has so little carbon that it suggests an early sprinkling of cosmic dust is responsible for making it," said Ji.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026
She mastered the social and political media by not being boring, sprinkling her views with salty talk and a sassy smile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
A court upheld a ban on people sprinkling salt outside their homes and businesses.
From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026
Her mother left her hand suspended in the air for a moment, as if the news were too tragic to continue sprinkling salt.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
