Standard Lemma guide

intersperse

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˌɪntəˈspɜːs/
  • Canada, US: /ˌɪntɚˈspɝs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˌɪntəˈspɜːs/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N T ER0 S P ER1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To mix two things irregularly, placing things of one kind among things of other.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To scatter or insert something into or among other things.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • When writing, I intersperse details.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: thread

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To diversify by placing or inserting other things among something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Mother Nature interspersed the petunias with a few dandelions, but it was a pretty garden, anyway.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

introduce one's writing or speech with certain expressions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: interlard

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: insert, enclose, inclose, stick in, put in, introduce

Narrower terms: interleave

5

verb

Meaning 5

place at intervals in or among

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • intersperse exclamation marks in the text

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: put, set, place, pose, position, lay

Narrower terms: interleave

History

Etymology

From Latin interspergō, interspersus.

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: շաղ տալ (šaġ tal) — to mix two things irregularly
  • Armenian: ցրիվ տալ (cʻriv tal) — to mix two things irregularly
  • Armenian: ցրել (cʻrel) — to mix two things irregularly
  • Czech: promíchat — to mix two things irregularly
  • Finnish: sirotella — to mix two things irregularly
  • French: entremêler — to mix two things irregularly
  • German: abwechseln — to mix two things irregularly
  • German: mischen — to mix two things irregularly
  • German: vermischen — to mix two things irregularly
  • Portuguese: intercalar — to mix two things irregularly
  • Russian: сме́шивать (sméšivatʹ) — to mix two things irregularly
  • Scottish Gaelic: eadar-sgaoil — to mix two things irregularly
  • Scottish Gaelic: eadar-sgap — to mix two things irregularly
  • Spanish: entremezclar — to mix two things irregularly
  • Spanish: interspersar — to mix two things irregularly
  • Spanish: entreverar — to mix two things irregularly
  • Swedish: spränga in — to mix two things irregularly
  • Bulgarian: разпръсвам (razprǎsvam) — to insert something into other things
  • Finnish: sirotella — to insert something into other things
  • Finnish: lomittaa — to insert something into other things
  • French: intercaler — to insert something into other things
  • German: einstreuen — to insert something into other things
  • German: daruntermischen — to insert something into other things
  • Greek: διανθίζω με (dianthízo me) — to insert something into other things
  • Russian: вкрапля́ть (vkrapljátʹ) — to insert something into other things
  • Russian: перемежать (peremežatʹ) — to insert something into other things
  • Russian: помещать (pomeščatʹ) — to insert something into other things
  • Spanish: interspersar — to insert something into other things
  • Spanish: entremeter — to insert something into other things
  • Spanish: interserir — to insert something into other things
  • Spanish: entregerir — to insert something into other things
  • Armenian: բազմազանել (bazmazanel) — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • Bulgarian: разнообразявам (raznoobrazjavam) — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • Finnish: elävöittää — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • German: auflockern — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • German: durchmischen — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • German: durchsetzen — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • Portuguese: intercalar — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • Russian: разбавля́ть (razbavljátʹ) — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something
  • Swedish: blanda in — to diversify by placing or inserting other things among something