disperse

verb

dis·​perse di-ˈspərs 

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 

-ˈspərst-lē

adverb

disperser noun

dispersible

di-ˈspər-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• dissipate
• scatter
• disappear
• dissolve
• fade

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

However, those seeking a cultural experience should go in September or October, when the masses disperse, and the calmer charms of Amalfi emerge. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 9 July 2025

When dry, the seed heads shatter to disperse the seed. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025

The package comes with a funky plastic lens that pops over the front of the projector's optics to disperse the light show in interesting patterns. —New Atlas, 9 July 2025

The Celestial Radiance choker features a 10.30-carat yellow diamond, representing solar rays bouncing between planets dispersing into delicate angular shapes, dazzling with yellow and brown diamonds. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 July 2025

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

Rhymes for disperse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

Kids Definition

disperse

verb

dis·​perse dis-ˈpərs 

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 

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

intransitive verb

: to become dispersed