scram
1 Americanverb (used without object)
noun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
verb
Etymology
Origin of scram1
1925–30; probably shortened form of scramble (but compare German schramm, imperative singular of schrammen to depart)
Origin of scram2
1945–50; perhaps identical with scram 1, though sense development is unclear
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:
If a cop tells you to scram, “You can say, ‘It is my understanding I have every right to record this.
From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2021
If an officer tells you to scram, “you can say, ‘It is my understanding I have every right to record this.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 22, 2021
Ferraro walked the same tightrope that tripped up Hillary Clinton when she wondered if she should wheel around in that debate and tell the creeping Donald Trump to scram.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2020
Then you press the start button and scram.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2014
“I guess we ought to really scram, huh,” I say, composing my voice, “if I want to swing by Applebee’s before the bus?”
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
The good news is they scrammed, leaving me and my bike alone.
From Forbes ● May 5, 2015
Good Night Ladies thereupon scrammed to San Francisco for a week, clicked, stayed five.
From Time Magazine Archive
Automatic systems would have "scrammed" the reactors, pushing control rods into the core and shutting them down.
From Time Magazine Archive
All three of the scrammed reactors had emergency cooling systems.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
The three active reactors at the plant had successfully scrammed.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Another image from the series shows a group of children "scramming" for coins tossed to them after a wedding in one of Dundee's churches.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2010
A giant lobby clock hangs above the scattered people, the crowds scramming either to something or away from it—I can’t tell.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
We are scramming through that crowd like mad, and we are in the clear.
From Hoiman and the Solar Circuit by Gordon Dewey
I was confronted with the alternatives of scramming or calling him a liar.
From The Old Martians by Roger Phillips Graham
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