disperse

verb

dis·​perse di-ˈspərs How to pronounce disperse (audio)
dispersed; dispersing

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to break up (see break up sense 1a)
police dispersed the crowd
b
: to cause to become spread widely
disperse the troops
c
: to cause to evaporate or vanish
sunlight dispersing the mist
2
: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: such as
a
archaic : disseminate
disperse the news
b
physics : to subject to dispersion (see dispersion sense 4)
disperse light
c
chemistry : to distribute (something, such as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium

intransitive verb

1
: to break up in random fashion
the crowd dispersed on request
2
a
: to become dispersed
the particles dispersed throughout the mixture
b
: dissipate, vanish
the fog dispersed toward morning
dispersedly
di-ˈspər-səd-lē How to pronounce disperse (audio)
-ˈspərst-lē
adverb
disperser noun
dispersible adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for disperse

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up.

scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Examples of disperse in a Sentence

Police ordered the crowd to disperse. the crowd dispersed once the show ended
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Officials denied using other means to disperse protesters, including firing pepper balls. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025 How will the minutes be dispersed? James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 The incident occurred as demonstrators were dispersing near 801 James Madison Highway and crossing a business parking lot, according to the Culpeper Police Department. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 One executive raised concerns about the program’s viability for health systems that span multiple states—and could see funds dispersed unevenly across their geographies, unbalancing regional programs. Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disperse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere to scatter, from dis- + spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of disperse was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disperse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

disperse

verb
dis·​perse dis-ˈpərs How to pronounce disperse (audio)
dispersed; dispersing
1
: to cause to become spread widely : scatter
police dispersed the crowd
2
: to subject (as light) to dispersion
3
: to move in different directions
the clouds dispersed

Medical Definition

disperse

verb
dis·​perse dis-ˈpərs How to pronounce disperse (audio)
dispersed; dispersing

transitive verb

: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: as
a
: to subject (as light) to dispersion
b
: to distribute (as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium

More from Merriam-Webster on disperse

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