disperse
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to drive or send off in various directions; scatter.
to disperse a crowd.
-
to spread widely; disseminate.
to disperse knowledge.
-
to dispel; cause to vanish.
The wind dispersed the fog.
-
Physical Chemistry. to cause (particles) to separate uniformly throughout a solid, liquid, or gas.
-
Optics. to subject (light) to dispersion.
verb (used without object)
adjective
verb
-
to scatter; distribute over a wide area
-
to dissipate or cause to dissipate
-
to leave or cause to leave a gathering, often in a random manner
-
to separate or be separated by dispersion
-
(tr) to diffuse or spread (news, information, etc)
-
to separate (particles) throughout a solid, liquid, or gas, as in the formation of a suspension or colloid
adjective
Related Words
See scatter.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disperse
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dispersen, disparsen (from Middle French disperser, ) from Latin dispersus (past participle of dispergere ), equivalent to di- di- 2 + -sper(g)- “scatter” (stem of -spergere, combining form of spargere “to scatter, strew”) + -sus past participle suffix
Explanation
To make a crowd at a party disperse, you could take away the food, turn off the music and ask for volunteers to clean up. Disperse is to spread out people or things, making them move in different directions. Imagine yourself standing on a basketball court holding a cup packed tight with marbles. If you turn it over, the marbles will disperse across the floor, moving away from you in all directions. Another word for this is scatter. Don't confuse this word with disburse, which means to distribute money. Remember that false friends disperse when you cease to disburse.
Vocabulary lists containing disperse
Fahrenheit 451
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
All American Boys
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The decision to let passengers disperse around the globe has stirred anxiety beyond the Canary Islands, but infectious-disease doctors told WSJ that any fears of a Covid-like situation were misplaced.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
This material consists of a single atomic layer of carbon with oxygen groups attached, giving it the ability to disperse well in water and perform a range of functions.
From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026
In a statement on Thursday, a gardaí spokesperson said the force was "moving to an enforcement phase" unless those blocking access to critical infrastructure "desist and disperse".
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
The spiders disperse themselves by “ballooning,” in which spiderlings release silk that catches in the wind, letting them travel.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
All this happened in about the time that it would take a sixpenny rocket to start off with its fiery swish, bend down from its climax and disperse itself in thunder and coloured stars.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
