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.
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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
Where the Red Fern Grows
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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:
First spotted bounding across streets in Washington, the Seattle raccoon with an unusual, spindly shape and the scamper of a Tasmanian Devil has been seized on by the internet as a new hit meme.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Cool Machine” is a modern masterpiece and an ode to New York, no matter that rats skitter and cockroaches scamper underfoot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
With two needed from two balls, Wildermuth slashed the penultimate delivery to backward point and a misfield allowed him to scamper back for a second, finishing unbeaten on 110 off 54.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025
However, Afsharipour’s 27-yard touchdown scamper pushed the Wildcats’ lead back to two scores early in the fourth quarter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2025
And Jasper lagged behind, weary from his wild scamper, his tongue hanging from his mouth.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
A dog called Colin scampers across the earthquake's wreckage in Morocco's remote mountain village of Douzrou.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2023
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
He scampers to the end zone, an unstoppable force meeting no immovable object, and the Orange student section is set ablaze with chants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2022
Much of “Servant” is broad and slapstick; in one scene, the president scampers Marx Brothers-style around the executive offices as a Swedish banker chases him for a loan repayment.
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2022
When the truck comes lumbering toward the parking lot, Bob scampers over to inform us.
From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate
Exhausted riders scampered down to the rocky beach and plunged into the Mediterranean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
The rapid Australia wing scampered clear and fed Lonergan for the home side's bonus-point score.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 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
Royster’s 12-yard touchdown reception made it 35-28 with 6:25 left, but Smith scampered 15 yards for his third touchdown to close the scoring with 3:21 left.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2025
Someone called him, and he snatched the bundle and scampered back to his place in line.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
The sport isn’t the same without Carlos Alcaraz, its sunny, electric, endlessly scampering 23-year-old acrobat from Spain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 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
The Queen's dog, Moley was seen scampering around the King's feet as he composed the letter, and recounted his seven-decade friendship with the broadcaster.
From BBC ● May 8, 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
Akiko opened her mouth to speak, but then came the sound of scampering footsteps, and a young girl popped on-screen and climbed into Leo’s lap.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
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.
