insert

American  

[in-surt, in-surt] / ɪnˈsɜrt, ˈɪn sɜrt /

verb (used with object)

• inserts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• inserted,
  past participle,  past
• inserting
  present participle

1. to put or place in.

   to insert a key in a lock.

2. to introduce or cause to be introduced into the body of something.

   to insert an extra paragraph in an article.

---

noun

• inserts
  plural

1. something inserted or to be inserted.

2. an extra leaf or section, printed independently, for binding or tipping into a book or periodical, especially a leaf or section consisting of an illustration or advertisement printed on different paper.

3. any small picture, device, etc., surrounded partly or completely by body type.

4. a paper, circular, etc., placed within the folds of a newspaper or the leaves of a book, periodical, etc.

5. Movies, Radio and Television. cut-in

insert British  

verb

1. to put in or between; introduce

2. to introduce, as into text, such as a newspaper; interpolate

---

noun

1. something inserted

2. 1. a folded section placed in another for binding in with a book

   2. a printed sheet, esp one bearing advertising, placed loose between the leaves of a book, periodical, etc

3. another word for cut in

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• inserter
  noun
• interinsert
  verb (used with object)
• preinsert
  verb (used with object)
• reinsert
  verb (used with object)
• subinsert
  verb (used with object)
• insertable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inserts
  plural

Participles

• inserting
  present
• inserted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• insert
  simple
• inserts
  simple
• have inserted
  perfect
• has inserted
  perfect
• am inserting
  progressive
• are inserting
  progressive
• is inserting
  progressive
• have been inserting
  perfect progressive
• has been inserting
  perfect progressive

Past

• inserted
  simple
• had inserted
  perfect
• was inserting
  progressive
• were inserting
  progressive
• had been inserting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will insert
  simple
• will have inserted
  perfect
• will be inserting
  progressive
• will have been inserting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of insert

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin insertus, past participle of inserere “to put in, insert,” equivalent to in- “in” + ser- (stem of serere “to link together”) + -tus past participle suffix; see in- ²

Explanation

When you insert something or someone, you put it into something else. You could insert yourself into a conversation, or you could insert a comma into the sentence you just wrote. The verb insert comes from the Latin in-, meaning “into,” and serere, meaning "to join." When you insert yourself into a conversation, you’re joining in, whether your friends want you to or not. Insert can also mean to fit snugly into, or to tuck. You might fit a card into an envelope that fits it perfectly, or insert first one leg and then another into a pair of tights.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

insert inserts inserted inserting

The words are randomly chosen at the last minute for Moynihan to insert within the prepared scripts, one of the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

González and Durazo plan to insert proposed legislation related to the Lineage fire into existing bills, a process known as “gut and amend.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

And for the simplest possible showstopper, Frieda’s Hulas Ready-to-Drink Coconuts come peeled and prepped with a tool that lets you open them and insert a straw in seconds.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

“The idea was to find ways to insert new homes in existing neighborhoods without disrupting the feel of the neighborhood, but providing lower-cost housing,” she says.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

Yes, before the DVR was invented, we actually had to insert a VHS tape into a VCR in order to record anything we wouldn't be home to watch.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Pharrell’s ad-libs and inserts interrupting the groove at perfect intervals to wake up the dancefloor.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

The draft communique inserts previously unused language targeting "freedom of navigation in and overflight above straits" while separately calling for "unimpeded" passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

And a Finnish project called Fold2 has explored using intricately folded cardboard to make packaging inserts designed to protect products during shipping.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Throughout the film, the director inserts shots of flowers that, though pretty and well-composed, don’t add much to her story of burgeoning womanhood for anyone who has seen a few Georgia O’Keeffe paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

She inserts two films to change my eye color.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Trump then signed the back of a stone shaped like an eagle's head that will be inserted into the pad, which is a giant replica of the seal of the president of the United States.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Weber Pierson told the Times Monday that the amendments intended to help Midway Rising “haven’t crossed” the desk, meaning that the language hasn’t been inserted into Senate Bill 344.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

While translating from Ottoman Turkish, an archivist substituted out the original owner and inserted Seit Shehu’s name instead, a court found.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Other items have also been known to be inserted into a skinsuit around the chest area to smooth airflow around the body.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

Headmarveller MacDonald pulled the cork from the bottle, inserted a pipette, and drew out a bit of the liquid.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Spend enough years standing behind pyramids of hamburgers, posing at fry stations and inserting yourself into the iconography of American restaurant chains, and eventually the props begin to accrue meanings of their own.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

This led to a change in the rules, with the two competitions inserting reciprocal clauses in their regulations.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

But in local disputes, the locals have every reason to get the oil flowing again eventually without the U.S. inserting itself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor in July 2021, inserting a rod, plates and screws into his left leg after the fighter broke his tibia and fibula during a bout against Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Over the next four months, they removed more than 3,000 tons of sand and soil, carefully inserting steel rings into the tunnel as they dug beneath Berlin's streets.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• embed
• enter
• fill in
• imbed
• implant
• include
• inject
• introduce
• stick