scramble

American  

[skram-buhl] / ˈskræm bəl /

verb (used without object)

scrambles, present (3rd person singular) scrambled, past participle, past scrambling present participle

1. to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.

2. to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain.

   The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.

3. to move hastily and with urgency.

   She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.

4. Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

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verb (used with object)

scrambles, present (3rd person singular) scrambled, past participle, past scrambling present participle

1. to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together orup ).

   He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.

2. to mix together confusedly.

   The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

3. to cause to move hastily, as if in panic.

   He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.

4. to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.

5. to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.

6. to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.

7. Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

noun

1. a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.

2. a struggle for possession or gain.

   a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.

3. any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.

4. Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

scramble British  

/ ˈskræmbəl /

verb

1. (intr) to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement

2. (intr) to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion

3. to compete with others, esp in a disordered manner

   to scramble for a prize

4. to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically

5. (tr) to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble

6. (tr) to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner

7. (tr) to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter

8. military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately

9. (tr) to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler

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noun

1. the act of scrambling

2. a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc

3. a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession

4. military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc

5. a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have scrambled
  perfect
• has scrambled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am scrambling
  progressive 1st person singular
• are scrambling
  progressive
• is scrambling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been scrambling
  perfect progressive
• scrambles
  singular 3rd person
• has been scrambling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• scrambling
  participle

Past

• had scrambled
  perfect
• were scrambling
  progressive plural
• was scrambling
  progressive singular
• scrambled
  simple
• had been scrambling
  perfect progressive
• scrambled
  participle

Future

• will scramble
  simple
• will have scrambled
  perfect
• will have been scrambling
  perfect progressive
• will be scrambling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of scramble

1580–90; blend of dial. scamble to stumble along, and scrabble (in the same sense)

Explanation

To scramble is to move quickly in a disorganized fashion, like people running to get out of the rain. When you scramble a message, it can no longer be read. Have you ever run somewhere, in a hurry, with no regard for how you looked? Then you scrambled. Quarterbacks scramble when they need to escape defenders trying to clobber them. A scramble is not graceful; people scramble when they want to get somewhere fast. Also, scrambling refers to altering a message so others can't read it. Putting a message into code is a type of scrambling. Scrambled messages are like scrambled eggs: all mixed up.

Example Sentences

Their sales remain robust, as other brands falter and scramble for answers, and Alessandro Sartori has led Zegna since 2016, which feels like an entire lifetime compared to the musical chairs at other brands.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

But instead of ending capital punishment in the United States, the Furman decision set off a scramble in which states reenacted their death penalty laws in the hope of curing the problem Justice Douglas identified.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

The threat of an MMA leak has driven some 50,000 people from their homes while authorities scramble to contain the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

I recommend enjoying the scramble alongside avocado, tomatoes, sliced onions and a slice of toast.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

They’re like campers in a forest who spot a grizzly and scramble up a tree to hide.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

Related Words

• clamber
• climb
• contend
• crawl
• jostle
• push
• rush
• scurry
• vie