scramble

[ skram-buhl ]

/ ˈskræm bəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: scramble / scrambled / scrambles / scrambling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.

to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain: The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.

to move hastily and with urgency: She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.

Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

verb (used with object), scram·bled, scram·bling.

to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together or up): He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.

to mix together confusedly: The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

to cause to move hastily, as if in panic: He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.

to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.

to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.

to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.

Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

noun

a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.

a struggle for possession or gain: a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.

any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.

Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of scramble

1580–90; blend of dial. scamble to stumble along, and scrabble (in the same sense)

Words nearby scramble

scraggly, scraggy, scram, scramasax, scramb, scramble, scrambled egg, scrambled eggs, scrambler, scramjet, scran

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scramble in a sentence

That may diminish the scramble for shots, though it also means health officials and leaders will have to work harder to make sure they’re delivering shots to those who need them.
Don’t hate the vaccine tourists, hate the vaccine game|Jen Kirby|February 12, 2021|Vox
Unless you put it out the night before, it’s a bit of a scramble in the morning.
When you walk a dog, your mind is as likely to wander as the dog is|John Kelly|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
In the aftermath of the late-night scramble to get vaccinated, I felt a strange mix of relief and guilt.
I jumped the queue to get an expiring vaccine. Did I do the right thing?|Niall Firth|February 1, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Now it’s a little bit of a scramble to get the pipeline back in order.
Future of TV Briefing: Media companies grapple with getting advertisers to buy their platform video inventory|Tim Peterson|January 27, 2021|Digiday

You can also see it in how he anticipates his receivers’ improvisational scrambles.
What Makes Patrick Mahomes So Great|Josh Hermsmeyer|January 14, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
When Carter lost reelection in 1980, Rubenstein had to scramble.
Patriotic Philanthropy: Not an Oxymoron|Eleanor Clift|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, the scramble is on and, in Republican presidential politics, anything can happen.
The Social Conservative Royal Rumble Is Brewing in Iowa|Ben Jacobs|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Colleges churn out graduates and confer advanced degrees, but the scramble for jobs continues.
How Young People Are Destroying Liberty|James Poulos|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps worst of all, this scramble for spoils raises the value of gains even as it lowers the bar for action.
Is Democracy Doomed Abroad?|James Poulos|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The camera sweeps over to a room filled with seemingly holographic monitors as two technicians scramble.
Gamers Want to Game: Video Games Aren't Blockbuster Movies|Alec Kubas-Meyer|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Please remember that under socialism the scramble for wealth is limited; no man can own capital, but only consumption goods.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
In all Trevithick's moves there was a scramble for money, in which he invariably came worst off.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Bascomb could scramble and make headway up the scarred bank, but there was no chance for the motor-cycle to follow.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
What will it be like a few days hence, when I shall scramble through the passes and over glaciers by myself!
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Half of the people had taken their seats when he began; there was a hasty scramble, and a decorous, half-checked smile.
Hilda|Sarah Jeanette Duncan

British Dictionary definitions for scramble

scramble

/ (ˈskræmbəl) /

verb

(intr) to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement

(intr) to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion

(intr often foll by for) to compete with others, esp in a disordered mannerto scramble for a prize

(intr foll by through) to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically

(tr) to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble

(tr) to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner

(tr) to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter

military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately

(tr) to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler

noun

the act of scrambling

a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc

a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession

military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc

British a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground

Word Origin for scramble

C16: blend of scrabble and ramp

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

scramble

Origin of scramble

Words nearby scramble

Words related to scramble

How to use scramble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scramble

Word Origin for scramble