scatter
Americanverb (used with object)
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scatters,
present (3rd person singular)
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scattered,
past participle, past
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scattering
present participle
-
to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals.
to scatter seeds.
- Synonyms:
- broadcast
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to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse.
to scatter a crowd.
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Physics.
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to refract or diffract (light or otherelectromagnetic radiation ) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.
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(of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.
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verb (used without object)
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scatters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
scattered,
past participle, past
-
scattering
present participle
noun
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scatters
plural
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the act of scattering.
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something that is scattered.
verb
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(tr) to throw about in various directions; strew
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to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse
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to deviate or cause to deviate in many directions, as in the diffuse reflection or refraction of light
noun
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the act of scattering
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a substance or a number of objects scattered about
Synonym Usage
See sprinkle. Scatter, dispel, disperse, dissipate imply separating and driving something away so that its original form disappears. To scatter is to separate something tangible into parts at random, and drive these in different directions: The wind scattered leaves all over the lawn. To dispel is to drive away or scatter usually intangible things so that they vanish or cease to exist: Photographs of the race dispelled all doubts as to which horse won. To disperse is usually to cause a compact or organized tangible body to separate or scatter in different directions, to be reassembled if desired: Tear gas dispersed the mob. To dissipate is usually to scatter by dissolving or reducing to small atoms or parts that cannot be brought together again: He dissipated his money and his energy in useless activities.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scattersimple
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scatterssimple
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have scatteredperfect
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has scatteredperfect
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am scatteringprogressive
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are scatteringprogressive
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is scatteringprogressive
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have been scatteringperfect progressive
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has been scatteringperfect progressive
Past
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scatteredsimple
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had scatteredperfect
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was scatteringprogressive
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were scatteringprogressive
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had been scatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scatter
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren “to burst out laughing”
Explanation
If you hear someone shout "Everybody scatter!” that person wants everyone to spread out and leave the area. Scatter is a verb that means "to separate suddenly and spread out in different directions." Scatter is sometimes used as a noun to refer to something that has been scattered. If you have clothes strewn all over your room, you might say there is a scatter of clothes on the floor. More commonly, though, scatter is used as a verb meaning “to spread about.” You might scatter grass seed on your front lawn in the spring. Scatter can also mean “break up or disperse.” The police, for instance, might scatter an unruly mob or gathering.
Vocabulary lists containing scatter
Beowulf vocabulary
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Bronx Masquerade
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"The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
That disruption can scatter electrons and erase some of the performance gains engineers are trying to achieve.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
They were travelling to the city to scatter the ashes of Rose's late husband, Pete.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Crack one egg into each center, then scatter with cubed pancetta, grated pecorino and plenty of black pepper.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
A post-game fireworks show went awry at BMO Stadium on Friday night, when fireworks set off on the playing pitch sent flares streaming into the stands, forcing fans to scatter to safety.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
Tear this note across twelve times and scatter the four thousand and ninety-six pieces to the wind!
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
Dust in the disk scatters light from the central star, creating an effect similar to fog.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
"This atomic disorder limits performance because it traps and scatters electrons, much like potholes slowing traffic on a highway," describes Dr. Dongqi Li from TU Dresden.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026
“Sometimes the robot’s arms throw the clothes and won’t fold properly. Sometimes it scatters the stack,” but the robots are learning quickly said Kavin, 27, an Objectways employee who goes by one name.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2025
The atmosphere scatters away more short-wave blue light, leaving the longer-wave reddish hues to project upon the Moon.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2025
Dona Mercedes scatters the last of the corn kernels and then studies my face.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Looking across the city, only a few patches of light survive, scattered in the gloom.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The few vehicles scattered in the parking lot, I learned, belonged mostly to Bill Hays, who describes himself as a “car guy.”
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
His police badge and stab vest were found scattered along the route.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Women leaned from apartment windows, filming the march on their phones, while others scattered rice and rose petals over the men carrying the coffins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Now, lots of thoughts scattered around my head just then, spilling here and there like marbles from a bag: it was well past midnight.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
I’ve topped bowls with butter-soaked, cardamom-dusted sourdough croutons, a simple scattering of pistachios, granola and even dried coconut flakes, and each has worked beautifully.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
At a media tour earlier this week, the massive Convention Center-scaled space was largely empty, save for dormant cranes, a scattering of workers and the occasional hum of drilling.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Fireworks can frighten animals and send them scattering, but Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets apparently are made of sterner stuff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
These high velocity impacts shattered enormous volumes of rock beneath the surface while vaporizing material and scattering molten rock across the landscape.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026
The King sprang in among his warriors, scattering them like chaff.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
