Verb
The kids were scampering around the yard.
A mouse scampered across the floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Somehow, the volume of liquid was greater than the weight of the dog, who happily scampered through the lake of urine, jumped up on my lap, then splashed down into the pool and back up on my lap again.—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2024 Ruby-red sea stars were plastered on the rocks, and hermit crabs scampered across driftwood.—Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024 Her powers of observation miss nothing: roughhousing children, bickering adults, pets scampering underfoot.—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 Corum cut outside left on a power run, following his blockers, and scampered in for the go-ahead touchdown.—Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 1 Jan. 2024 Invader scampered down from the ladder with a satisfied look.—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 The dogs scamper straight up, but the mules have to zigzag their way, setting off small rockslides at each rum.—Bill Heavey, Field & Stream, 1 Feb. 2024 Early Thursday, before Operation Breakthrough would fill with little kids hanging up their coats and scampering to their seats, teacher Vanshay Purnell learned that her mother had died that morning.—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2024 The bus doors opened, and the happy passengers scampered toward Dodger Stadium.—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
Noun
On the fourth play of the game’s opening drive, wide receiver Jameson Williams took a pitch from quarterback Jared Goff on an end-around and sliced through the San Francisco 49ers defense on his way to a 42-yard touchdown scamper.—Craig Meyer, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024 After a 37-yard kick return by Devin Duvernay to open the third quarter, Jackson capped a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard touchdown scamper up the middle.—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024 Winners and losers from the Bills' wild card win against the Steelers
WINNERS
Josh Allen
There were plenty of big moments for the star signal-caller, who ripped off the second-longest scoring run by a quarterback in NFL playoff history with his 52-yard scamper.—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 However, for the second time in his career in a massive game away from the Big House, Edwards had two show-stopping home run scampers that have defined his career.—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 15 Jan. 2024 The 24-14 lead grew to 17 points on a 39-yard scamper by Ryan Ventura, playing running back for the first time since his freshman season and finishing with 74 yards on seven carries.—Randy Jennings, Dallas News, 16 Sep. 2023 Oliver Doto ran in a pair of scores, a 6-yard scamper and a 30-yarder that put the game out of reach.—Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023 Aceves ripped off a 61-yard scamper down the left sideline, breaking four separate Buccaneers tackle attempts to set up the score.—Richard J. Marcus, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023 Former Pinson Valley standout and North Carolina A&T running back Kenji Christian scampers for a 25-yard gain into UAB territory but the Aggies go no further and turn the ball over on downs.—Evan Dudley, al, 31 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scamper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably from obsolete Dutch schampen to flee, from Middle French escamper, from Italian scampare, from Vulgar Latin *excampare to decamp, from Latin ex- + campus field
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