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

I wanted to interject some levity, because the work can get so dark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 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

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

"Quiet, please," he continued when Harris tried to interject, in seeming reference to her well-known response to former VP Mike Pence's interruptions during a 2020 debate.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2024

I expect Guardian to interject, but she does not.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

"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

McKay asks if Pranita would like for them to call anyone — the ICE agent interjects, “No phone calls.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 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

“I don’t think you pronounce the bat in bat mitzvah like you say baseball bat,” Volpe interjects.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

“He didn’t say he hated Trump,” interjected his wife Lila Trask, 79, who thinks the teacher is sincere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 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

An employee interjected and reminded him of the new policy, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

When the reporter interjected, “He started this one,” Mullin replied, “This isn’t a war.”

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 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

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

Wootton could be seen smiling and laughing whilst Fox was speaking, interjecting with "a touch of balance" to say Evans regretted her comments and called her a "very beautiful woman".

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2023

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

He held up a hand to stop her interjecting.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood