dissipate

American  

[dis-uh-peyt] / ˈdɪs əˌpeɪt /

verb (used with object)

dissipated, dissipating

1. to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel.

   Antonyms:

   unite

2. to spend or use wastefully or extravagantly; squander; deplete.

   to dissipate one's talents; to dissipate a fortune on high living.

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verb (used without object)

dissipated, dissipating

1. to become scattered or dispersed; be dispelled; disintegrate.

   The sun shone and the mist dissipated.

   Synonyms:

   vanish, disappear

   Antonyms:

   unite

2. to indulge in extravagant, intemperate, or dissolute pleasure.

dissipate British  

/ ˈdɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. to exhaust or be exhausted by dispersion

2. (tr) to scatter or break up

3. (intr) to indulge in the pursuit of pleasure

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Related Words

See scatter.

Other Word Forms

• dissipater noun
• dissipative adjective
• dissipativity noun
• dissipator noun
• nondissipative adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissipate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dissipātus (past participle of dissipāre, dissupāre “to scatter”); -ate ¹

Example Sentences

In fact, tailwinds from 2025 are becoming headwinds, as energy prices climb and the K-shaped recovery starts to crumble: “Paper-rich consumers supported spending by running down savings, however this is already dissipating,’ Carroll writes.

From Barron's

If Clare refused to enter the realms willingly, would he slowly dissipate into nothing?

From Literature

The power they had in qualification dissipated during the warm-up games.

From BBC

Investors have become wary again and the optimism on markets evident earlier in the week has dissipated.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It is the opinion of the Ford Motor Company that automobile exhaust gases are dissipated in the atmosphere quickly and do not present an air pollution problem.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dispel
• disperse
• dissolve
• evaporate
• spread
• vanish