intersperse

[ in-ter-spurs ]

See synonyms for: intersperse interspersed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),in·ter·spersed, in·ter·spers·ing.

to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things: to intersperse flowers among shrubs.
to diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals: to intersperse a dull speech with interesting anecdotes.

Origin of intersperse

1560–70; <Latin interspersus (past participle of interspergere to strew here and there), equivalent to inter-inter- + -spersus, combining form of sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter; see disperse

Other words for intersperse

1	strew, sprinkle

See synonyms for intersperse on Thesaurus.com

Other words from intersperse

in·ter·spers·ed·ly [in-ter-spur-sid-lee], /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr sɪd li/, adverb
in·ter·sper·sion [in-ter-spur-zhuhn or, especially British, -shuhn], /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr ʒən or, especially British, -ʃən/, in·ter·sper·sal, noun
un·in·ter·spersed, adjective

Words Nearby intersperse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intersperse in a sentence

Here’s a timeline of statements by Pompeo on the agreement and his dealings with the Taliban, interspersed with data and facts about the conflict.
Mike Pompeo on the Taliban: A timeline | Glenn Kessler | August 25, 2021 | Washington Post
Instead of hours of video calling, intersperse long conferences with shorter voice calls or quick direct messages.
Leaders prepare for hybrid-work models ‘ensuring everyone is in the loop’ | Jessica Davies | August 9, 2021 | Digiday
The genetic tweaks that make humans uniquely human may come in small parcels interspersed with DNA inherited from extinct ancestors and cousins.
Only a tiny fraction of our DNA is uniquely human | Tina Hesman Saey | July 16, 2021 | Science News
My favorite one is called a SINE, a noncoding RNA called “short interspersed nuclear element.”
Humans Are One Mixed-Up Ape - Facts So Romantic | Phil Jaekl | July 9, 2021 | Nautilus
Questlove spent months with the tapes, and then interspersed clips with interviews and other historical footage to create Summer of Soul, which is not just a concert film but a portrait of a transformative moment in America.
"This Film Was My Chance to Correct History": Questlove on Summer of Soul and the Oscars | Andrew R. Chow | June 28, 2021 | Time

Our author is wont to break off suddenly and intersperse his arguments with affectionate words of exhortation.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews | Thomas Charles Edwards
That a grave historian should intersperse the innumerable trivialities of the Worthies may be only less shocking.
A History of English Literature | George Saintsbury
intersperse the pieces of chicken with layers of paste in square slices.
Miss Leslie's Lady's New Receipt-Book | Eliza Leslie
Some funny incidents too, intersperse themselves from time to time.
Lige on the Line of March | Glenna Lindsley Bigelow
These kind of observations you have always wished me to intersperse, as they arise to my thoughts.
Clarissa, Volume 4 (of 9) | Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for intersperse

intersperse

/ (ˌɪntəˈspɜːs) /

verb(tr)

to scatter or distribute among, between, or on
to diversify (something) with other things scattered here and there

Origin of intersperse

C16: from Latin interspargere, from inter- + spargere to sprinkle

Derived forms of intersperse

interspersedly (ˌɪntəˈspɜːsɪdlɪ), adverb
interspersion (ˌɪntəˈspɜːʃən) or interspersal, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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