sprinkles

IPA/ˈsprɪŋklz/

KK[sprˈɪŋkəlz]IPA/ˈsprɪŋklz/

1.nounA2

Definition

colourful sugar or chocolate fragments that bakers and cooks place onto sweet foods such as cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream as a decoration.

Example

Sofia put a handful of rainbow sprinkles on her cupcake before the icing dried.

rainbow sprinkles — different colour types

The bakery uses chocolate sprinkles on their signature donuts every morning.

chocolate sprinkles — common flavour type

Common collocations

rainbow sprinkles
chocolate sprinkles
sprinkles on top
with sprinkles
a jar of sprinkles

Synonyms

jimmies
American English term, especially for chocolate sprinkles used on ice cream
hundreds and thousands
British English term for very small round sprinkles

Usage Note

Usually used in the plural form. As an uncountable noun it is rare but possible: 'a packet of sprinkle' is less common than 'a packet of sprinkles.'

Common Mistakes

I need some sprinkle for the cake.

I need some sprinkles for the cake.

the word is almost always used in the plural form, even for a small amount.

2.nounB1

Definition

a short period of very light rain or snow that starts and ends quickly and is not heavy at all.

Example

We felt a few sprinkles of rain as we ran from the car to the restaurant door.

sprinkles of rain — light rain pattern

The weather forecast said there might be some sprinkles in the afternoon, but no heavy rain.

Common collocations

sprinkles of rain
sprinkles of snow
just sprinkles
a few sprinkles

Synonyms

drizzle
slightly heavier and more continuous than sprinkles
light shower
a short period of light rain, similar in intensity

Antonyms

downpour
heavy, sudden rain — the opposite in intensity

Usage Note

This sense is always plural. It describes a fall that is noticeably lighter than a 'shower' and much lighter than 'rain.' Often used to reassure someone that the precipitation is not serious.

Common Mistakes

There was a sprinkle of rain this morning.

There were sprinkles of rain this morning.

even a single brief light fall is referred to in plural.

Idioms

sprinkles

idiom

very small pieces of coloured sugar or chocolate that people put on top of cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, and other sweet foods to make them look more attractive.

The children love choosing which colour sprinkles to put on their birthday cake.

Grandma always keeps a jar of sprinkles in the cupboard for baking cookies at the weekend.

sprinklespresent simple I / you / we / they
sprinkleses3rd person singular
sprinklesing-ing form
sprinklesedpast simple

1.verbtransitiveA2

Definition

to let small amounts of something — such as grains of salt, grated cheese, or drops of water — fall in a light, loose way onto a surface, especially when preparing food.

Example

Diego sprinkled some grated cheese over the pasta before putting it in the oven.

sprinkle + [food] + over + [food] — cooking pattern

The recipe says to sprinkle the top of the bread with sesame seeds before baking.

sprinkle + [surface] + with + [substance]

Common collocations

sprinkle with sugar
sprinkle with salt
sprinkle water on
sprinkle over
sprinkle on top

Synonyms

scatter
more general; can be larger or heavier amounts, not necessarily in small pieces
dust
suggests a very fine, light layer like flour or powdered sugar
sprinkle lightly with
emphasises a small amount

Antonyms

pour
to let liquid flow in a stream — much more than sprinkling
drench
to make completely wet — opposite of lightly sprinkling

Grammar Patterns

sprinkle + noun (the substance) + on/over + noun (the surface)

sprinkle + noun (the surface) + with + noun (the substance)

Usage Note

The verb can take two different object patterns. Pattern A names the substance first (sprinkle sugar on the cake). Pattern B names the surface first (sprinkle the cake with sugar). Both are equally common.

Common Mistakes

I sprinkled over the pasta some cheese.

I sprinkled some cheese over the pasta.

the substance should follow the verb directly before the preposition.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to place or distribute a number of things at intervals across an area or throughout a space, giving the impression that the area is dotted or decorated with them.

Example

The night sky was sprinkled with stars that shone brightly over the sleeping village.

passive: be sprinkled with + [stars/objects]

Small cafes and bookshops are sprinkled throughout the old part of the city.

Common collocations

sprinkled with stars
sprinkled with flowers
sprinkled throughout
sprinkled across

Synonyms

dot
shorter and more direct; implies single points rather than scattered pieces
stud
suggests things that stand out prominently, like jewels or lights

Antonyms

concentrate
to bring together in one place — opposite of scattering across

Grammar Patterns

be sprinkled with + noun (things distributed)

sprinkle + noun (things) + across/throughout + noun (area)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice. The subject is typically a large area, surface, or container (the sky, the garden, the speech). This sense extends metaphorically to abstract things like jokes or references.

Common Mistakes

The stars sprinkled the sky.

The sky was sprinkled with stars.

this sense is much more natural in the passive form.

3.verbtransitiveB1

Definition

to make the surface of something slightly wet or damp by applying a small amount of liquid, so that it feels cool, becomes easier to handle, or stays fresh.

Example

Before rolling out the dough, Nari sprinkled the countertop with water to stop it from sticking.

sprinkle + [surface] + with + [liquid] — dampening result

Before ironing the shirt, Tariq sprinkled it with a little water to remove the wrinkles.

Common collocations

sprinkle with water
sprinkle with milk
sprinkle with oil
sprinkle on

Synonyms

dampen
slightly more formal; to make slightly wet, especially cloth
moisten
to make slightly wet, often used in cooking and skincare contexts

Antonyms

soak
to make thoroughly wet — the opposite of a light sprinkling
dry
to remove moisture

Grammar Patterns

sprinkle + noun (object) + with + noun (liquid)

sprinkle + noun (liquid) + on + noun (object)

Usage Note

The purpose here is always to make the surface damp — to stop sticking, remove wrinkles, cool down, or help browning. If you can replace 'sprinkle' with 'scatter' without changing the meaning, you are in sense 1, not sense 3. This sense only works with thin liquids (water, milk, oil); sense 1 works with dry particles (salt, cheese, seeds) too.

4.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

if rain sprinkles, it falls in very light, scattered drops — not enough to get you truly wet, but enough to notice.

Example

It started to sprinkle just as we reached the park, so we moved under a big tree.

it + sprinkle — weather pattern

The sky stayed grey and it sprinkled on and off throughout the whole afternoon.

Common collocations

it sprinkles
it is sprinkling
start to sprinkle
sprinkle on and off

Synonyms

drizzle
slightly heavier and more continuous than sprinkling
spit
even more informal British English term for very light rain

Antonyms

pour
to rain heavily
bucket down
informal phrase meaning to rain very hard

Grammar Patterns

it sprinkles

it is sprinkling

it sprinkled

Usage Note

Used only with the impersonal subject 'it' — the same structure as 'it rains' or 'it snows.' This describes the lightest form of rain, lighter than 'drizzle.' Cannot be used with a person as subject.

Common Mistakes

The rain sprinkled on us.

It sprinkled on us.

the subject must be 'it,' not 'the rain.'

Word family

sprinkle
verbA2
sprinkler
nounB1
sprinkling
nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe distributing small things over a surface, but they differ in the size of the material and the care with which it is placed. 'Sprinkle' is the most common word in everyday English and suggests small, light pieces or drops that fall gently — the cook sprinkles cheese on pasta or the gardener sprinkles water on plants. 'Scatter' is more general and can involve larger or heavier objects thrown without care — you scatter seeds in a field or scatter toys across a room. 'Dust' emphasises a very fine, even layer: a baker dusts a cake with powdered sugar, or you dust a surface with flour. 'Strew' is less common and suggests things left lying around rather than deliberately placed — clothes are strewn across the floor after a long trip. In cooking or food contexts, 'sprinkle' is almost always the right choice.

sprinkle ↗scatter ↗dust ↗strew ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

sprinkle with
sprinkle on top
be sprinkled with

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishDutchGermanEnglish

'Sprinkle' comes from Middle English 'sprenkelen,' a frequentative (repeated-action) form of 'sprenge,' which meant 'to cause to spring or scatter.' This traces back to Old English 'sprengan,' meaning 'to make spring up, to scatter.' The word is related to Dutch 'sprenkelen' and German 'sprenkeln,' both meaning 'to sprinkle or speckle.' The noun form 'sprinkles' (referring to decorative candy bits) became common in American English in the mid-20th century.

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sprinkles

sprinkles — noun

1. colourful sugar or chocolate fragments that bakers and cooks place onto sweet fo

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a short period of very light rain or snow that starts and ends quickly and is no

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

sprinkles

sprinkles — verb

1. to let small amounts of something — such as grains of salt, grated cheese, or dr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to place or distribute a number of things at intervals across an area or through

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to make the surface of something slightly wet or damp by applying a small amount

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. if rain sprinkles, it falls in very light, scattered drops — not enough to get y

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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