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

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

However, for a criminal suspect on trial to interject and instruct a witness not to answer a prosecutor's question during cross-examination is something nearly unheard of in a court.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2025

But so few interject a sense of play into our sleep habits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2024

His answers were discursive, and reporters tried to interject.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

“I’m sure there would,” I interject, “he was against it from the first.”

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

“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

To underscore that point, Tarabay heartily interjects here with, “HELL no!”

From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025

"Now it's a town that has beaten Manchester United," interjects Ms Sharpe, as both women chuckle.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2025

“Yes, Mrs. Edgar said they’ve seen a few undead around their property of late,” Katherine interjects.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

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

Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, interjected to tell Maduro that there would be a "time and a place to get into all of this".

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

When Maduro continued to argue in court that he was wrongfully apprehended, the judge gently interjected, telling him there would be a time and place to make those arguments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026

“Where he poaches my father’s game in his absence, the thief,” interjected Hamlet.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

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

There is a caveat, though, from a interjecting Hickey.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 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

“That was a philosophy that I really employed on a regular basis — constant, conspicuous, uniformed patrol, and interjecting myself wherever I could at any moment to try to prevent something from occurring,” Kusch said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2021

Otherwise, she listened to her sister, interjecting periodically with whatever semirelevant detail popped into her head.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama