scamper

verb scam·per \ ˈskam-pər \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: scamper in a Sentence

Definition of scamper

scampered; scampering play \ˈskam-p(ə-)riŋ\

intransitive verb

: to run nimbly and usually playfully about

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Examples of scamper in a Sentence

The kids were scampering around the yard.
A mouse scampered across the floor.

Recent Examples of scamper from the Web

Westfield pitcher Hannah Hockerman unleashed a wild pitch on the next delivery, allowing Kowald to scamper home with the go-ahead run.

— curt hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Horicon sophomore tosses no-hitter in Division 4 softball semifinal," 8 June 2018
After taking a few photos with the bear still inside, a police sergeant opened one of the doors of the vehicle and the bear scampered away.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Bear On A Tear Gets Stuck In Car In Canton, Destroys Interior," 22 May 2018
Police opened a door and the bear scampered into the woods.

— BostonGlobe.com, "New England news in brief," 22 May 2018
The second crossing came in March 2015, when female P-33 scampered across the highway from south to north near Camarillo on the western end of the mountain range.

— joseph serna, www.latimes.com, "Mountain lions are being killed on freeways and weakened by inbreeding. Researchers have a solution," 16 May 2018
In the afternoon, young girls scamper down the central stairway after their drum lessons, and on a recent afternoon, older women waited in line to register to volunteer during the group’s Carnival performance.

— New York Times, "They Told the Women in Bahia They Couldn’t Drum. Try Telling That to Banda Didá.," 30 Jan. 2018
Trains come in unannounced on the wrong platform, sending riders to scamper like voles across crumbling overhead passageways to the correct platform.

— lynnley browning, Newsweek, "The Perils of Metro-North," 20 Feb. 2014
Well, the little guy did survive, Frankonyte said in a followup post on Tuesday morning with video of the kitty scampering about in a local animal hospital.

— joe marusak and jared gilmour, charlotteobserver, "'Just look at him:' Rescuers raced from California to SC to save kitten trapped in well | Charlotte Observer," 10 May 2018
With Hicks offering no threat of a pick-off and shortstop Jose Iglesias shading Moustakas some 10 feet to the right of second base, Soler scampered while Boyd stepped off the rubber.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire takes blame for defensive collapse," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scamper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of scamper

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1685

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

scamper

noun

Definition of scamper

: a playful or hurried run or movement

Recent Examples of scamper from the Web

The 26-year-old tenor saxophonist has set most of these original compositions at a medium-fast tempo, and her saxophone stipples and scampers, gesturing toward the influence of the alto saxophonist Steve Lehman.

— New York Times, "The Playlist: John Mayer Laments the Friend Zone, and 11 More New Songs," 11 May 2018
Franks does hold the school record for the longest run by a Gators’ QB - a 79-yard scamper last season against Texas A&M.

— edgar thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Three things we learned during Gators' spring game," 15 Apr. 2018
The Patriots then ran out the clock, with Dion Lewis' 18-yard scamper with 90 seconds remaining sealing the victory.

— dennis waszak jr., San Antonio Express-News, "Brady leads Patriots back to Super Bowl, top Jaguars 24-20," 21 Jan. 2018
The Patriots then ran out the clock, with Dion Lewis’ 18-yard scamper with 90 seconds remaining sealing the victory.

— dennis waszak jr., The Seattle Times, "Tom Brady shakes off hand injury, leads another comeback to beat Jaguars for AFC title," 21 Jan. 2018
Michel ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns on only 11 carries, the last of which was a 27-yard scamper for the game-winning score in double overtime.

— scooby axson, SI.com, "SI's 2017-18 All-Bowl Team," 10 Jan. 2018
Kenny Moore’s first career interception led to a seven-play, 50-yard drive by the Colts that was capped by a seven-yard touchdown scamper from Brissett, his fourth this season.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: Collapsing Colts now one loss from history," 14 Dec. 2017
Kenny Moore’s first career interception led to a seven-play, 50-yard drive by the Colts that was capped by a seven-yard touchdown scamper from Brissett, his fourth this season.

— zak keefer, USA TODAY, "Insider: Collapsing Colts now one loss from history," 14 Dec. 2017
Senior receiver Armanti Foreman capped the victory with and 18-yard touchdown scamper on the final touch of his volatile career.

— nick moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas finishes season on a high note with bowl win over Missouri," 28 Dec. 2017