scamper
Americanverb (used without object)
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scampers,
present (3rd person singular)
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scampered,
past participle, past
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scampering
present participle
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to run or go hastily or quickly.
-
to run playfully about, as a child.
noun
verb
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to run about playfully
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(often foll by through) to hurry quickly through (a place, task, book, etc)
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scampersimple
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scamperssimple
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have scamperedperfect
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has scamperedperfect
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am scamperingprogressive
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are scamperingprogressive
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is scamperingprogressive
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have been scamperingperfect progressive
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has been scamperingperfect progressive
Past
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scamperedsimple
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had scamperedperfect
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was scamperingprogressive
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were scamperingprogressive
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had been scamperingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scamper
Explanation
To scamper is to move in a hurry. You and your friends might scamper to catch the bus, or your kitten might scamper to catch a mouse. The verb scamper describes something that's moving in disorderly haste, often out of fear or excitement. You might notice that chipmunks scamper the instant your dog goes outside. You can also use scamper as a noun, when you talk about your death-defying scamper across town in an effort to be on time for your first day of work. Scamper was a very popular word in the late 1800s.
Vocabulary lists containing scamper
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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:
Møller’s heartless captain has even less personality but he does scamper impressively fast up the mast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
On one hand, it’s nice to see young Brian scamper up to his bedroom to crack open an encyclopedia or hear a herd of theropods stampede on the roof of an all-metal car.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
But whether the Jam Tarts scamper over the line on Saturday, they can be certain that one group of Edinburgh residents won’t be joining the party.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
A smart kick from Smith switched play to Tom Roebuck, and the Sale wing showed deft footwork to scamper in on the stroke of half-time.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
Every so often she’d scream my name and I’d scamper inside.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
While Stafford kept answering, Allen ultimately decided the game with two more scampers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
A dog called Colin scampers across the earthquake's wreckage in Morocco's remote mountain village of Douzrou.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2023
And just as Rapp promised, Davis scampers into the end zone for the game-winning score.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 22, 2022
Former Stanford rusher Austin Jones had two touchdown scampers, ex-Oregon tailback Travis Dye thrived at pass protection and freshman Raleek Brown showed off his athleticism.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 6, 2022
As soon as we reach the sidewalk, Boomer leaps toward a squirrel, which scampers up a nearby oak tree.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
Maryland quarterback Malik Washington tossed three more interceptions in the second half, the first two returned for touchdowns as Ta’Shawn James and Scooter Jackson scampered in from 39 and 65 yards, respectively.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Umpire Bill Miller took a few steps toward the creature, who then scampered into right field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, playing at his boyhood club, scampered over for a hugely popular score before Antoine Hastoy wormed over at the end of another sweeping move that England could never pin down.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
All represent some semblance of taste, an attribute that’s scampered up the ranks of desirability in the AI era.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
Gum Baby scampered up and trotted alongside me as Ayanna, Thandiwe—with Chestnutt in her arms—and I exited the palace.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
After another McKenzie break led to nothing, some more beautiful handling resulted in Leroy Carter scampering into the left corner, a fabulous finish.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
James Lankford, of Oklahoma, quickly confirmed that he hasn’t gotten a pair from the president before scampering up a set of stairs labeled “Senators Only.”
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
From the passenger seat, I often spotted rabbits fleeing down dirt roads and scampering under bushes, many joined by red-legged partridges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
Radcliffe was breathlessly scampering up and down the aisles of the Hudson Theatre before the show began, enlisting audience members to be participants in the play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
And then she's doing her odd little dance back out of the circle and scampering into the woods again, safe and sound.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
