What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
drizzle
Example
The weather forecast said it would drizzle all day. [drizzle: verb]
Example
The cake was decorated with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. [drizzle: noun]
sprinkle
Example
Can you sprinkle some salt on the popcorn? [sprinkle: verb]
Example
The garden was sprinkled with dew in the morning. [sprinkled: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sprinkle is more commonly used than drizzle in everyday language. Sprinkle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while drizzle is less common and mainly used to describe light rain.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between drizzle and sprinkle?
Both drizzle and sprinkle are relatively informal words, but drizzle may be slightly more formal due to its association with weather-related contexts.
