sprinkle
14 synonyms for sprinkle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To scatter small drops or particles of something over a surface.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To scatter small drops or particles of something over a surface.
“She sprinkled sugar over the fresh strawberries.”
2. noun
A light shower of rain.
“Just a light sprinkle fell before the sun came back out.”
How to use sprinkle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sprinkle of rain
sprinkle sugar
chocolate sprinkles
Etymology
From Middle English sprenkelen, borrowed from Middle Dutch sprenkelen, built on sprink plus a frequentative suffix.
Full origin of sprinkle →Frequently asked questions
What does “sprinkle” mean?
The word “sprinkle” means to scatter small drops or particles of something over a surface. In plain terms, to scatter something lightly over a surface, or the light rain/tiny decorations that result from this kind of scattering.
How do you pronounce “sprinkle”?
“Sprinkle” is pronounced SPRIHNG-kuhl (/ˈspɹɪŋkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sprinkle” in a sentence?
Here is “sprinkle” used in a sentence: “She sprinkled sugar over the fresh strawberries.”
What is another word for “sprinkle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sprinkle” include dust and sift.
What part of speech is “sprinkle”?
Depending on how it is used, “sprinkle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sprinkle” come from?
The word “sprinkle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sprenkelen, borrowed from Middle Dutch sprenkelen, built on sprink plus a frequentative suffix.
Is “sprinkle” a common word?
“Sprinkle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sprinkle” have?
“Sprinkle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to scatter small drops or particles of something over a surface.
