interject

American  

[in-ter-jekt] / ˌɪn tərˈdʒɛkt /

verb (used with object)

interjects, present (3rd person singular) interjected, past participle, past interjecting present participle

1. to insert between other things.

   to interject a clarification of a previous statement.

   Synonyms:

   intercalate, interpolate, introduce, insinuate

2. Obsolete. to come between.

---

interject British  

/ ˌɪntəˈdʒɛkt /

verb

1. to interpose abruptly or sharply; interrupt with; throw in

   she interjected clever remarks

2. archaic to come between; interpose

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interjector
  noun
• uninterjected
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• interjecting
  present
• interjected
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• interject
  simple
• interjects
  simple
• have interjected
  perfect
• has interjected
  perfect
• am interjecting
  progressive
• are interjecting
  progressive
• is interjecting
  progressive
• have been interjecting
  perfect progressive
• has been interjecting
  perfect progressive

Past

• interjected
  simple
• had interjected
  perfect
• was interjecting
  progressive
• were interjecting
  progressive
• had been interjecting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will interject
  simple
• will have interjected
  perfect
• will be interjecting
  progressive
• will have been interjecting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of interject

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin interjectus, past participle of interjicere “to throw between,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -jec- (combining form of jac-, stem of jacere “to throw”) + -tus past participle suffix; see inter-

Explanation

When you interject, you interrupt or put yourself in the middle of something. Ever have a coworker interject himself into the plans for your big project at work when he wasn't really needed? First used in the late 16th century, the verb interject comes from the Latin word interjicere, which combines inter-, meaning "between," and jacere, meaning "to throw." It's most often used to describe something that's abruptly thrown into a conversion. It can be considered rude to suddenly interject a question into a conversation that doesn't involve you. But you might interject a personal story into a boring presentation to liven things up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interject interjects interjected interjecting

The same principle applies in meetings: Bosses should hold back their opinions until others have spoken, and not interject even to express agreement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025

"It's the sheer amount of time people off the playing surface are interjecting, or being asked to interject, that's making the games at times a bit of a mess."

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025

When Jeremiah Watkins heard someone in the audience interject, “What about trains?” the comedian welcomed the chance to riff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2024

"Quiet, please," he continued when Harris tried to interject, in seeming reference to her well-known response to former VP Mike Pence's interruptions during a 2020 debate.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2024

Ayanna started to interject, but I ignored her.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

"But she doesn't eat vegetables," her mother, Carmen, interjects.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

“All of it’s been fluff,” Mr. Tisch interjects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

"Too many!" interjects Sandy, who was not thrilled about having to park far from the village centre just to go grocery shopping -- security is even more draconian with US President Donald Trump arriving Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026

A rep interjects to confirm that the details are still being ironed out, but it’s too late.

From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2026

“No, it was clear that we won,” Roshan interjects.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

When he suggested that there was only one more senator left to ask questions, a staffer interjected to tell him—in words picked up by the mic—that several additional senators had time to speak.

From Slate ● May 16, 2026

When the reporter interjected, “He started this one,” Mullin replied, “This isn’t a war.”

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026

Pappas, the global head of AI for Colgate-Palmolive CL -2.06%decrease; red down pointing triangle , a 220-year-old consumer-products company, quickly interjected, pointing out that the agency was using an older tool.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

Harlow quickly interjected, repeatedly asking Lemon a couple of times, “Prime for what?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

“When talking about driving, I remember that old song: ‘Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road ahead Dr. Strayer interjected.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

But watching such interactions together, even if we are just interjecting the occasional comment as we sit shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch, makes a difference.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

In meetings with middle management, she finds ways to keep the attention of management for longer, sometimes by interjecting when we’re speaking with unrelated but attention-grabbing points.

From New York Times ● May 11, 2024

I imagine Marshall peering down at counsel and interjecting, with his trademark gruffness: “You have got to be kidding me.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2022

Describing the play of its favorite team while interjecting life lessons masquerading as baseball stories, Scully became a city’s eyes, its ears and its conscience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2022

He held up a hand to stop her interjecting.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood