sprinkling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
medium frequencyneutral
Quick answer
What does “sprinkling” mean?
A small, scattered amount of something, especially liquid or particles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, scattered amount of something, especially liquid or particles.
The act of scattering small amounts; a light rain; metaphorically, a small number or quantity of people or things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties, conveying lightness and scarcity.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, but not markedly so.
Grammar
How to Use “sprinkling” in a Sentence
sprinkling something on somethingsprinkling something over somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sprinkling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She is sprinkling icing sugar on the mince pies.
American English
- He was sprinkling cheese over the nachos.
adjective
British English
- The sprinkling rain made the pavements slippery.
American English
- We experienced a sprinkling shower during the picnic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A sprinkling of new clients joined the portfolio this quarter.
Academic
The study found only a sprinkling of evidence supporting the hypothesis.
Everyday
We had a light sprinkling of snow overnight.
Technical
In irrigation, a sprinkling of water is applied to seedbeds for optimal growth.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sprinkling”
- Using 'sprinkling' to describe large amounts (e.g., 'a sprinkling of people' for a crowd).
- Overusing as a verb without object (e.g., 'He was sprinkling' without specifying what).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used metaphorically for abstract things, such as a sprinkling of ideas or people.
Yes, as the present participle or gerund of 'sprinkle', it can be used in continuous tenses or as a noun.
'Sprinkling' suggests even lighter and more scattered precipitation than 'drizzle', which is steadier but still light.
Pronunciation is largely consistent between British and American English, with minor accent differences not affecting the IPA.
A small, scattered amount of something, especially liquid or particles.
Sprinkling is usually neutral in register.
Sprinkling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sprinkling of fairy dust”
- “a sprinkling of stardust”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sprinkle' like shaking salt – a sprinkling is a light, scattered shake.
Conceptual Metaphor
Scattering as minimal distribution; lightness as insufficiency.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of 'a sprinkling of'?