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.

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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

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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

The Chileans drilled holes allowing workers to insert a camera and pinpoint his location.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2026

It was decided to bury the objects rather than insert them in a statue.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

"Then, when you go to put it in your ear, pull on your ear lobe with the opposite hand to open up the ear canal, insert the earplug and let it fully expand."

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Swan, herself no stranger to the wellness-podcast circuit, was careful to insert the caveat that the film is “not a quote-unquote ‘scientific study.’

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

I twist the parts together, insert the mouthpiece, and hold the bell high.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Related Words

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