scatter
Americanverb (used with object)
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scatters,
present (3rd person singular)
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scattered,
past participle, past
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scattering
present participle
-
to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals.
to scatter seeds.
- Synonyms:
- broadcast
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to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse.
to scatter a crowd.
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Physics.
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to refract or diffract (light or otherelectromagnetic radiation ) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.
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(of a medium) to diffuse or deflect (light or other wave phenomena) by collisions between the wave and particles of the medium.
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verb (used without object)
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scatters,
present (3rd person singular)
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scattered,
past participle, past
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scattering
present participle
noun
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scatters
plural
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the act of scattering.
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something that is scattered.
verb
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(tr) to throw about in various directions; strew
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to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse
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to deviate or cause to deviate in many directions, as in the diffuse reflection or refraction of light
noun
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the act of scattering
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a substance or a number of objects scattered about
Synonym Usage
See sprinkle. Scatter, dispel, disperse, dissipate imply separating and driving something away so that its original form disappears. To scatter is to separate something tangible into parts at random, and drive these in different directions: The wind scattered leaves all over the lawn. To dispel is to drive away or scatter usually intangible things so that they vanish or cease to exist: Photographs of the race dispelled all doubts as to which horse won. To disperse is usually to cause a compact or organized tangible body to separate or scatter in different directions, to be reassembled if desired: Tear gas dispersed the mob. To dissipate is usually to scatter by dissolving or reducing to small atoms or parts that cannot be brought together again: He dissipated his money and his energy in useless activities.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scattersimple
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scatterssimple
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have scatteredperfect
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has scatteredperfect
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am scatteringprogressive
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are scatteringprogressive
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is scatteringprogressive
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have been scatteringperfect progressive
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has been scatteringperfect progressive
Past
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scatteredsimple
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had scatteredperfect
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was scatteringprogressive
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were scatteringprogressive
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had been scatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scatter
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English scatere; compare Dutch schateren “to burst out laughing”
Explanation
If you hear someone shout "Everybody scatter!” that person wants everyone to spread out and leave the area. Scatter is a verb that means "to separate suddenly and spread out in different directions." Scatter is sometimes used as a noun to refer to something that has been scattered. If you have clothes strewn all over your room, you might say there is a scatter of clothes on the floor. More commonly, though, scatter is used as a verb meaning “to spread about.” You might scatter grass seed on your front lawn in the spring. Scatter can also mean “break up or disperse.” The police, for instance, might scatter an unruly mob or gathering.
Vocabulary lists containing scatter
Beowulf vocabulary
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Bronx Masquerade
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"The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet"
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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:
Under typical conditions, Po and So waves form when P and S waves scatter repeatedly through layered structures inside an oceanic plate.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Serve them by the bowlful with cold drinks, or scatter them over tomato soup, chili, Caesar salad or roasted vegetables.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
Even when their mirrors are not pointed at the observer, the light they scatter will make each one as bright as Venus -- which is known as the "morning star", Hainaut said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Kianty and Conor Simpson, from Lincolnshire, have yet to scatter son Jacob's ashes as no inquest has been held into his death and they still do not have a death certificate for him.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Truck doors slam and birds high up in treetops scatter in all directions.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
One of UV-C light's most valuable traits is how strongly it scatters in the atmosphere, which makes it especially useful for non-line-of-sight communication.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 7, 2026
Aerogels also rely on air-filled pores, but those pores are typically arranged in a random pattern that scatters light.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 13, 2025
Clayton Kershaw scatters six hits and gives up one earned run, and the Dodgers’ offense finally shows life in a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2025
"It's like a firework that goes up and just scatters - that's how my life had just exploded," she said.
From BBC ● May 27, 2025
Then the torches switch on and every man strikes at the heap, which scatters with a rush.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
The few vehicles scattered in the parking lot, I learned, belonged mostly to Bill Hays, who describes himself as a “car guy.”
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
Any rain that has fallen has been in the form of well scattered showers meaning many areas - like Wisley - have completely missed out.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Mining companies see enormous wealth in mineral deposits scattered across the seabed, but the fledgling industry has for years been held back by environmental concerns.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Food trucks and bars were scattered throughout, serving up tacos, burgers, hot dogs and other hand-held bites.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Other scientists were either in the air or scattered in labs, trying to piece together what information they had coming out of the volcano.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
I’ve topped bowls with butter-soaked, cardamom-dusted sourdough croutons, a simple scattering of pistachios, granola and even dried coconut flakes, and each has worked beautifully.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
That alignment reduces scattering of the heat carrying phonons, allowing thermal energy to move through the crystal much more efficiently.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
At a media tour earlier this week, the massive Convention Center-scaled space was largely empty, save for dormant cranes, a scattering of workers and the occasional hum of drilling.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Fireworks can frighten animals and send them scattering, but Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets apparently are made of sterner stuff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The Captain knelt down beside the old woman, scattering cats in every direction.
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
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.
