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.

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interject British  

/ ˌɪntəˈdʒɛkt /

verb

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

   she interjected clever remarks

2. archaic to come between; interpose

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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

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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-

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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

Kasten could not pass up the chance to interject.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

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

She thinks if you're going to someone's headline show that they've honed and crafted - "they've perfected the rhythm, set-up and punchline" - then the time to interject has passed.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025

His answers were discursive, and reporters tried to interject.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

I tried to interject, but I couldn’t get a word in.

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

"We do lots of things," Leo interjects, opening the jar of pickles I set down and fishing one out.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Roy interjected with the mischievous smirk typical of a younger brother trying to ruffle some feathers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

Commissioner John Galo interjected, citing concerns he had about the recurring fees Monarch Tracking could charge, which could cost the county tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, in his estimate.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026

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 a reporter pressed Mamdani over a previous comment calling Trump a despot, the president interjected, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

“No doubt it would be a grand adventure,” she interjected, for she had no wish to dream about flesh-eating piranhas that night; the murderous pheasants had been bad enough.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

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

With her face aglow and eyes welling up with tears, she joyously jumped in and rescued me from myself, interjecting with a resounding “Yes!”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2023

Schiff’s most characterful work, though, was in the Rondo finale, in which he rendered the cadenza as a grander conclusion, interjecting the “Don Giovanni” chords, then layering the overture and the concerto in clever counterpoint.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2023

When the meeting reconvened, he started interjecting again, calling for a point of order.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2021

Simmon listened intently, occasionally interjecting a word or two.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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