interject
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to insert between other things.
to interject a clarification of a previous statement.
- Synonyms:
- intercalate, interpolate, introduce, insinuate
-
Obsolete. to come between.
verb
-
to interpose abruptly or sharply; interrupt with; throw in
she interjected clever remarks
-
archaic to come between; interpose
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have interjectedperfect
-
has interjectedperfect 3rd person singular
-
are interjectingprogressive
-
have been interjectingperfect progressive
-
is interjectingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am interjectingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been interjectingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
interjectingparticiple
-
interjectssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had interjectedperfect
-
was interjectingprogressive singular
-
were interjectingprogressive plural
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had been interjectingperfect progressive
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interjectedparticiple
-
interjectedsimple
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing interject
Power Prefix: inter-
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List 5
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Walk Two Moons
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The next day, when other wedding guests asked Louise what she did for a living, Clifford would interject with the barb that "one thing she doesn't do is know how to work an oven properly".
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025
When Jeremiah Watkins heard someone in the audience interject, “What about trains?” the comedian welcomed the chance to riff.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2024
"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
There was hardly time for explanations, much less an argument, but I pattered on, leaving no room for him to interject.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
