: a playful or hurried run or movement
Examples of scamper in a Sentence
Verb
The kids were scampering around the yard.
A mouse scampered across the floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Graeme Green, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
When disruptive innovations like generative AI come along, entire industries are left scampering to keep up.
—Sviat Dulianinov, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Busch scampered hometo give the Cubs a 3-2 lead on a play that Heim was given a throwing error.
—David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
Just before halftime, Detroit’s defensive back Terry Barr snatched an interception at the Cleveland 29 yard line and scampered untouched into the end zone for a touchdown — a dagger that made the score 31-7.
—Bill Morris, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024
Other children scampered over a jungle gym and played basketball.
—Dodai Stewart, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Her 18-month-old son, Pietro, scampered by old men on benches.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024
But Fitzpatrick failed to wrap up and take down the wide receiver, who spun around and scampered all the way downfield for a 17-yard touchdown.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024
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
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Jackson’s 15-yard touchdown scamper to open the second half after Devin Duvernay’s 37-yard kickoff return took some of the pressure off the Ravens.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024
The bear obliges and soon scampers off into the woods after stepping out of the truck.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
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
Verb
Traffic wardens hold back cars and motorbikes as the intelligent animals wait, then scamper across busy roads.
—Graeme Green, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
When disruptive innovations like generative AI come along, entire industries are left scampering to keep up.
—Sviat Dulianinov, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Busch scampered hometo give the Cubs a 3-2 lead on a play that Heim was given a throwing error.
—David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
Just before halftime, Detroit’s defensive back Terry Barr snatched an interception at the Cleveland 29 yard line and scampered untouched into the end zone for a touchdown — a dagger that made the score 31-7.
—Bill Morris, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024
Other children scampered over a jungle gym and played basketball.
—Dodai Stewart, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Her 18-month-old son, Pietro, scampered by old men on benches.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024
But Fitzpatrick failed to wrap up and take down the wide receiver, who spun around and scampered all the way downfield for a 17-yard touchdown.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024
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
Noun
The youngsters sulk, stomp and scamper, pull pranks and horse around.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Jackson’s 15-yard touchdown scamper to open the second half after Devin Duvernay’s 37-yard kickoff return took some of the pressure off the Ravens.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024
The bear obliges and soon scampers off into the woods after stepping out of the truck.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near scamper
Cite this Entry
“Scamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scamper. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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