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

While these intuitions are attempting to insert women into the male-dominated picture of the Viking age, descriptions of women’s lives and their social or cultural influence tend to be limited.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Such direct relationships, he stressed, are the core asset of modern journalism, even as tech platforms continually insert themselves between news outlets and their readers and viewers through algorithm tweaks.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026

In the lawsuit, Baker-Mazara alleges he tried to return, despite aggravating a knee injury, but Musselman chose not to insert him into the lineup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

It has invested in Italian company D-Orbit, which offers services to insert satellites into orbit, and Skeleton, an Estonian maker of energy-storage devices designed for fast charging and discharging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Sophie holds open the mail slot, and we insert our makeshift spout.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

On Wednesday, Judge I'Ashea Myles ordered that "anything that was in the actual room needs to be preserved and maintained," including IV lines and syringes, as well as waste, such as packaging, inserts and labels.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Three letters to describe a cord that our puzzle writer always inserts the wrong way?

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

In between the book’s linked stories, Ms. Daanje inserts excerpts from those scant archives—Millicent’s letters, the poems and cryptic jottings from Eliza May’s notebooks—as well as passages from various later biographies of the Draydens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

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

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

Even the “ah” that Klotz inserts between the two halves of his sentence serves to undercut the importance of what he is saying.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

A chest tube was inserted to drain the fluid.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

I have a friend who has, on a few occasions, sent me AI-generated raps with his name or a joke inserted as the lyrics.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

Some have proposed that the Qumran community periodically inserted additional days or weeks to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Once inserted, the springs remain in place for several weeks to months, gradually reshaping the skull before being removed.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

He had unscrewed the chest plate of the nearest as he spoke, inserted the two-inch sphere that contained the tiny spark of atomic energy that was a robot’s life.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Why are the people inserting the catheter wearing white coats?

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

During a consultation with the New York plastic surgeon Dr. David Rosenberg, he suggested an alternative that involves smaller incisions and inserting a tiny camera into the body to identify precise areas to lift.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

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

“All right,” Jack’s grandfather said, inserting himself between the two of them, stopping Jack’s return pinch in a very unsatisfying way.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Related Words

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