Meaning & use
sprinkle
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To scatter small pieces, drops, or grains loosely over a surface.
Grammar: Takes an object; use sprinkle something on/over something or sprinkle something with something.
Patterns
- sprinkle something over something
- sprinkle something with something
- sprinkle salt on something
Sprinkle cheese over the pasta before serving.
She sprinkled the seedlings with water.
He sprinkled cinnamon on his oatmeal.
verbintransitiveAmerican
To rain lightly in small scattered drops.
Grammar: No object; often with it as subject in American English: it sprinkled overnight.
Patterns
- it sprinkles
- sprinkle lightly
- sprinkle overnight
It sprinkled just enough to wet the sidewalk.
Light rain sprinkled across the county.
We hoped it would only sprinkle during the picnic.
nouncountable or uncountable
A small scattered amount of something, or a brief light rain.
Grammar: Use a sprinkle of for a small amount; sprinkles is the usual plural for candy pieces.
Patterns
- a sprinkle of salt
- rain sprinkles
- colorful sprinkles
Add a sprinkle of salt to taste.
There were a few sprinkles before sunset.
The children decorated cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles.
Word forms
| third person singular | sprinkles |
|---|---|
| past tense | sprinkled |
| past participle | sprinkled |
| -ing form | sprinkling |
Common combinations
- sprinkle with cheese
- Sprinkle the potatoes with cheese and bake.
- lightly sprinkle
- Lightly sprinkle the seedlings each morning.
- a sprinkle of sugar
- A sprinkle of sugar browned the crust.
- rainbow sprinkles
- She finished the cake with rainbow sprinkles.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scatter
- Scatter means throw widely and randomly; sprinkle adds small drops or grains and a light, controlled action.
- dust
- Dust means cover very lightly, often with powder; sprinkle can name the action and the small amount.
- drizzle
- Drizzle is steady light rain or pouring liquid thinly; sprinkle is lighter, more scattered, and often manual.
- strew
- Strew is broader and often literary, covering an area loosely; sprinkle is common for kitchen and rain contexts.
Opposites
Word family
- sprinkler noun
- A device that sprays water over grass or crops.
- sprinkling noun
- A small scattered number or amount.
- sprinkler system noun
- A set of devices or pipes for spraying water, often for fire protection.
Commonly confused: sprinkle or drizzle?
sprinkle vs drizzle
Drizzle is light but steadier rain falling from the sky; sprinkle can be rain, but also the action of scattering by hand.
Practice
Choose the best instruction for topping a pizza.
Choose one answer.
Sprinkle fits a light, scattered topping. Pour and dump suggest too much or poor control, and sealing inside the dough changes the instruction completely.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sprinkle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.