sprinkle

/ˈsprɪŋkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsprɪŋkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspriŋ-kəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsprɪŋ.kəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsprɪŋ.kəl/ (ame, ipa)

sprinkle — verb

  • sprinklepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sprinkleshe / she / it
  • sprinkledpast simple
  • sprinkling-ing form

1. to let tiny amounts of a solid substance or drops of liquid fall onto a surface

1.動詞及物A2
釋義

to let tiny amounts of a solid substance or drops of liquid fall onto a surface from above, often as a light finishing layer on food or another object

例句

Kwame sprinkled grated cheese over the pasta before putting the dish in the oven.

sprinkle + noun + over + noun (surface)

The baker sprinkled a thin layer of flour onto the board before rolling out the dough.

同義詞
  • scatter

    scatter is more general and suggests a wider, less controlled spreading; sprinkle implies a lighter, more deliberate action

  • dust

    dust means to cover very lightly with a fine powder, while sprinkle can use larger pieces or drops

  • drizzle

    drizzle refers specifically to liquid in a thin, steady stream, whereas sprinkle uses small separate drops or solid pieces

  • strew

    strew is less common and usually suggests irregular scattering over a wide area, often in a messy way

文法句型

sprinkle + noun (scattered item) + over/on/onto + noun (surface)

sprinkle + noun (surface) + with + noun (scattered item)

用法筆記

This sense follows two main patterns. When the scattered item is the direct object, use 'over', 'on', or 'onto' before the surface: 'sprinkle sugar over the cake'. When the surface is the direct object, use 'with' before the scattered item: 'sprinkle the cake with sugar'. The object can also be omitted when the context is clear: 'sprinkle with cheese.'

常見錯誤

❌I sprinkled the cake over sugar.
✅I sprinkled sugar over the cake.
💡The scattered item goes directly after the verb; the surface follows the preposition.
❌She sprinkled water the plants.
✅She sprinkled water on the plants.
💡A preposition (over/on/onto) is needed between the scattered item and the surface.

2. to rain very lightly, with only a few separated drops falling at a time, produci

2.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to rain very lightly, with only a few separated drops falling at a time, producing a very gentle, short-lived shower

例句

It started to sprinkle just as we reached the park gate, so we turned back.

it + sprinkle — weather use only

Élise checked the forecast before her garden party — it would only sprinkle, not pour, so she kept the buffet outdoors.

同義詞
  • drizzle

    drizzle involves finer, steadier droplets falling continuously; sprinkle suggests more scattered, intermittent drops

  • spit

    spit is informal British English and implies very occasional, isolated drops, lighter than sprinkle

反義詞
  • pour

    pour describes heavy, continuous rainfall, opposite in both intensity and drop size

文法句型

it + sprinkles

it + is + sprinkling

用法筆記

This sense is restricted to third-person singular with 'it' as the subject. 'It sprinkles' describes light rainfall — lighter than drizzling and much lighter than pouring. Americans use this more often than British speakers, who may prefer 'spit' or 'spot with rain'. This sense cannot take a human subject (❌ 'I sprinkled rain').

常見錯誤

❌It sprinkled outside with big drops.
✅It sprinkled outside with tiny drops.
💡Sprinkling rain consists of small, separated drops, not large ones.
❌I sprinkled some rain.
✅It was sprinkling this morning.
💡You cannot use a person as the subject of this weather sense.

sprinkle — noun