sprinkling

noun

sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ 

1

: a limited quantity or amount : modicum

2

: a small quantity falling in scattered drops or particles

3

: a small number distributed at random : scattering

Synonyms

• couple
• few
• handful
• scatter
• scattering
• smatter
• smattering
• sprinkle

Examples of sprinkling in a Sentence

a sprinkling of fans showed up at the airport

just a sprinkling of experience with the computer program

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, municipal and fire prevention agencies must give property owners advance — and continual — warnings to clear dead vegetation and to wet dry brush within 10 feet of the house with periodic, prolonged sprinklings. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025

It's got a sprinkling of influence of-without sounding too grandiose-Wes Anderson. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

There were no baubles or bows on the towering trees now dotted around Beckham’s Dover Street store, which were naked save for the subtlest sprinkling of lights. —Kerry McDermott, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2024

Both weeks also tend to feature an off-calendar sprinkling of pre-fall womenswear collections. —Miles Socha, WWD, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

sprinkling

noun

sprin·​kling ˈspriŋ-kliŋ 

: a very small number or amount