noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sprinkling
First recorded in 1400–50, sprinkling is from the late Middle English word sprenclyng. See sprinkle, -ing 1
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.
See Examples For:
Spiegel says they brainstorm ideas for actors and themes based on what’s in the zeitgeist, tying the stories to specific moments in pop culture, then sprinkling in some evergreen stories throughout the year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Others were seen sprinkling water to cool them.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
This is how you prevent the flat, powdery taste that comes from sprinkling seasoning over finished sauce.
From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2026
"The star has so little carbon that it suggests an early sprinkling of cosmic dust is responsible for making it," said Ji.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026
My husband ploughed it, steadying the plough behind the two bullocks while I came behind, strewing the seed to either side and sprinkling the earth over from the basket at my hip.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
And you know, there were sprinklings of tourists, and restaurants were packed.
From New York Times ● Jan. 17, 2022
Any that are found must come from geologically recent sprinklings.
From Science Magazine ● Jul. 15, 2021
What 5th Avenue artistic director Berry does, with flair and propulsion, is honor the original and bring it to life with more Latinx actors in the mix and sprinklings of Spanish in the dialogue.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 12, 2019
In both cases, however, there were sprinklings of truth inserted in the fakes in order to scare journalists off calling them fabrications and to lure people into line-by-line debates that distract from the larger issues.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2019
The three of us walk along the beige tiles, sprinklings of actual sand around, to the tunnel.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
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.
