interpolate

American  

[in-tur-puh-layt] / ɪnˈtɜr pəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

• interpolates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• interpolated,
  past participle,  past
• interpolating
  present participle

1. to introduce (something additional or extraneous) between other things or parts; interject; interpose; intercalate.

2. Mathematics. to insert, estimate, or find an intermediate term in (a sequence).

3. to alter (a text) by the insertion of new matter, especially deceptively or without authorization.

4. to insert (new or spurious matter) in this manner.

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verb (used without object)

• interpolates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• interpolated,
  past participle,  past
• interpolating
  present participle

1. to make an interpolation.

interpolate British  

/ ɪnˈtɜːpəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to insert or introduce (a comment, passage, etc) into (a conversation, text, etc)

2. to falsify or alter (a text, manuscript, etc) by the later addition of (material, esp spurious or valueless passages)

3. (intr) to make additions, interruptions, or insertions

4. maths to estimate (a value of a function) between the values already known or determined Compare extrapolate

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interpolater
  noun
• interpolator
  noun
• interpolable
  adjective
• interpolative
  adjective
• interpolatory
  adjective
• noninterpolating
  adjective
• noninterpolative
  adjective
• uninterpolated
  adjective
• uninterpolative
  adjective
• interpolatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• interpolating
  present
• interpolated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• interpolate
  simple
• interpolates
  simple
• have interpolated
  perfect
• has interpolated
  perfect
• am interpolating
  progressive
• are interpolating
  progressive
• is interpolating
  progressive
• have been interpolating
  perfect progressive
• has been interpolating
  perfect progressive

Past

• interpolated
  simple
• had interpolated
  perfect
• was interpolating
  progressive
• were interpolating
  progressive
• had been interpolating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will interpolate
  simple
• will have interpolated
  perfect
• will be interpolating
  progressive
• will have been interpolating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of interpolate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin interpolātus, past participle of interpolāre “to make new, refurbish, touch up,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -polā- verb stem (akin to polīre “to polish”) + -tus past participle suffix; see inter-, polish

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Explanation

When you interpolate words into a text, you alter the text by adding words in. If you’re describing your favorite novelist's work, you might interpolate a few examples of her writing into your description. If you constantly interpolate your own snide comments into your sister's play-by-play account of an important basketball game, don't be surprised if she asks you to knock it off. In math, to interpolate means to estimate the value of something given certain data. If you’re looking at a chart that gives the level of pollutants in a lake on January 1st and February 1st, you must interpolate the level for January 15th.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interpolate interpolates interpolated interpolating

To get around that issue, the BEA said that it will average September and November numbers to interpolate the October missing data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026

I have no idea, but when somebody wants to interpolate or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I hadn’t known or anticipated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2024

A NeRF encodes the geometry of a scene into the weights of a neural network, which gives the model a strong ability to interpolate, or estimate, novel views of a scene.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2024

As Swain explained, “we don’t have thermometers covering every square inch of the Earth,” so scientific groups use computer models to interpolate between data points, generating what is called a reanalysis.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 11, 2023

Whatever number of motions we may be able to interpolate, and whether they be real or imaginary, we shall still find, at the end of the series, a motion antecedent and a colour consequent.

From A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive 7th Edition, Vol. II by John Stuart Mill

Entitled Alter Ego, it includes singles Moonlit Floor, which interpolates Sixpence None the Richer's classic track Kiss Me, as well as New Woman featuring Spanish star Rosalía, and hip hop track Rockstar.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2025

Beyoncé interpolates a bit of “Good Vibrations” on her hit “Cowboy Carter” album, while Lana Del Rey turned up with the band at last month’s Stagecoach country music festival in Indio.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2024

He says that when he dropped the fiery “Dientes” in September, the ’00s club-inspired Latino urbano track which interpolates Usher’s “Yeah!,” his fans were expecting reggaeton — his “original sound,” as he puts it.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2023

“At the time, I was loving Wu-Tang, that Ol’ Dirty Bastard song,” said Keys, referring “Brooklyn Zoo” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard, which she interpolates on “Girlfriend.”

From Washington Times ● Mar. 30, 2020

Sometimes he writes a whole chapter, unless our literary scent misleads us; sometimes he interpolates the General, and sometimes the General interpolates Stead.

From Salvation Syrup; Or, Light On Darkest England by G. W. (George William) Foote

Note: 12-month moving average unemployment rate for ages 16+ by education level, comparing each group with its own unemployment history since 2003; October 2025 data interpolated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

“Everyday People” alone was covered by Aretha Franklin, Joan Jett, the Staples Singers, the Supremes and Pearl Jam, and it was interpolated by Arrested Development on the 1992 hit “People Everyday.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2025

Many hits will be played in full, some will be interpolated into other songs, and still more will be used as "bridges" between acts.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2023

It was “Rapper’s Delight,” which interpolated Chic’s hit “Good Times.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 7, 2023

"Jest the lawyer, Newt," interpolated Red Newton ingratiatingly.

From The Code of the Mountains by Charles Neville Buck

Set to a throbbing synth bassline, the song teases fans by interpolating a line from her 1980s classic Into The Groove: "Out here on the dance floor, I feel so free."

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

“Old Dog” is a tribute to Mr. Cole’s home state, featuring rapper Petey Pablo interpolating his 2001 North Carolina anthem “Raise Up.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

Online, he has a reputation for interpolating corporate PR with nerdy puns and — in his words — “dank” memes.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023

BRELAND’s debut full-length album “Cross Country” builds on that history, interpolating and sampling older songs and bringing in his background in gospel, R&B and hip-hop under the expansive umbrella of country music.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2022

Then he came to America and began writing lyrics, interpolating them in musical comedies over here.

From When Winter Comes to Main Street by Grant Martin Overton

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