🇬🇧🇨🇳 sparse - 疏 : English Lesson

Meaning of "sparse" ("疏"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Sparse means there is only a little of something, and it’s spread out with lots of empty space in between. If a forest is sparse, there are just a few trees standing far apart. If someone has sparse hair, you can see a lot of scalp and only a few hairs. Sparse describes something that is not crowded, not full, and has big gaps between the pieces.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Our Halloween candy pile was sadly sparse after Dad did a ‘quality check’ on it.

My baby cousin’s hair is so sparse that when the wind blows, all three strands dance.

My exercise routine is sparse—I do one push-up a week and then need a vacation.

The sprinkles on my cupcake were so sparse that each one needed its own name.

The audience was so sparse that the singer high-fived every single person twice.

On a cold hill, Anna walked through a sparse orchard; the sparse trees left long shadows and sparse apples on the ground. Her sparse footprints met one small stray dog. They sat beside a sparse bench and shared warmth. The sparse sky faded as they laughed, content to be less alone.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.