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 of disperse

• 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

Authorities told Newsweek protesters were instructed multiple times to disperse and did not comply, resulting in multiple individuals being taken into custody. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025

De la Cruz, also in his 80s, retired from business and with five adult children dispersed around the country, sold the big house and moved to a Coconut Grove condo with a few favorite pieces and a panoramic view across Biscayne Bay of his former Island Paradise abode. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025

Authorities used cloud seeding, which involves dispersing particles into clouds to create precipitation, to redirect rainfall away from the areas where search and rescue efforts were ongoing, said Suharyanto, who goes by a single name like many Indonesians. —Arkansas Online, 30 Nov. 2025

The seeds are dispersed in the spring, germinate in the fall, and can remain viable for up to 10 years. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 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