scatter

American  

[skat-er] / ˈskæt ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals.

   to scatter seeds.

   Synonyms:

   broadcast

2. to separate and drive off in various directions; disperse.

   to scatter a crowd.

3. Physics.

   1. to refract or diffract (light or otherelectromagnetic radiation ) irregularly so as to diffuse in many directions.

   2. (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)

1. to separate and disperse; go in different directions.

noun

1. the act of scattering.

2. something that is scattered.

scatter British  

/ ˈskætə /

verb

1. (tr) to throw about in various directions; strew

2. to separate and move or cause to separate and move in various directions; disperse

3. to deviate or cause to deviate in many directions, as in the diffuse reflection or refraction of light

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noun

1. the act of scattering

2. a substance or a number of objects scattered about

Related Words

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

• scatterable adjective
• scatterer noun
• scatteringly adverb

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.

Example Sentences

Lee has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

The players are scheduled to scatter Wednesday, returning to spring training camps throughout Arizona and Florida.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

For days afterward, I had a jar of deeply savory, softly tangy vegetables ready to scatter over everything.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

At the time, scientists believed these waves would scatter energetic electrons, causing them to fall into Uranus's atmosphere and disappear.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

That day she had flown over treetops, her shoes brushing the tips of their branches, and swooped low, causing a herd of unicorns to scatter.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• discard
• distribute
• divide
• fling
• litter
• pour
• shatter
• shower
• spray
• spread
• sprinkle