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

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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-

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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

That had certainly been the occasion to interject his critical facility in assessing the meaning of experimental observations—but he had said nothing useful.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

In an exchange about her passing on her crown at Barcelona she quickly interjects: "No, I didn't have a crown! It's just media stuff!"

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

“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

A rep interjects to confirm that the details are still being ironed out, but it’s too late.

From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2026

Maxine interjects, “Don’t bombard my mentee with questions,” she says.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

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

When a reporter pressed Mamdani over a previous comment calling Trump a despot, the president interjected, “I’ve been called much worse than a despot, so it’s not that insulting.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

“You didn’t ever really listen to many of Obama’s speeches,” Cheri interjected, and James allowed as how that was true.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026

“The Starry Chronicle said the cities will go on lockdown soon,” Tochi interjected, taking a news-box from his satchel.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

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

"It's the sheer amount of time people off the playing surface are interjecting, or being asked to interject, that's making the games at times a bit of a mess."

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 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

I imagine Marshall peering down at counsel and interjecting, with his trademark gruffness: “You have got to be kidding me.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2022

He held up a hand to stop her interjecting.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

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