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:
The erratic ant was named for its "high-energy foraging behaviour which sees it scamper with meandering and unpredictable movements", she added.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 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
“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
They had more runners scamper across the plate during the regular season than anybody other than the star-studded New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025
“I will give you the loveliest present if you could scamper off and not come back. A nice, crunchy bone, perhaps?”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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
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
Woo scampers over, pushing against the gigantic cow as if his skinny arms are actually helping.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Then he flipped the ball to Walker—who scampered in for his second score of the day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Louisiana averaged 7.6 yards per play and scored 20 points in the second half, led by dual threat quarterback Lunch Winfield, who scampered to 91 rushing yards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Fleetwood grew up playing at nearby Formby Hall and occasionally scampered over the Royal Birkdale fence to get on to the course which he dreamed of playing.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
On Friday, desert iguanas and whiptails scampered across an access road, portions of which wind through the national park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
I’d been worried the Amagqirha would lag behind, but I had to sprint to keep up as she scampered ahead, lifting her skirts so they wouldn’t drag.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
Who’s the figure in the hoodie scampering across the screens by which Lester and Edward monitor the allegedly vacant facility?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 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
Woo lets out a defiant “Woo!” before bravely scampering behind me.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
