scamper

1 of 2

verb

scam·​per ˈskam-pər 

scampered; scampering ˈskam-p(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to run nimbly and usually playfully about

scamper

2 of 2

noun

: a playful or hurried run or movement

Synonyms

Verb

• trot
• jog
• run
• gallop
• hurry

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

Verb

Swift made a few Commanders defenders miss and scampered for a 55-yard touchdown. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Andrew Greif Kansas City's Hollywood Brown caught a nifty shovel pass from Patrick Mahomes and Detroit couldn't keep up with the Chiefs' pre-snap misdirection, allowing Brown to scamper into the end zone after nine yards for a 20-10 lead over Detroit. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025

Noun

The senior captain broke off a 25-yard scamper with a keeper to set his team up in enemy territory, then hit Ben Allen for a 26-yard touchdown pass on the next play as the Mustangs increased their lead to 17-0 with eight minutes left in the frame. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025

Murphy added an 18-yard third-period scoring pass to Buckhalter, who caught a pair of TDs and ran for another, an 11-yard scamper on the first play of the third period, which gave the Warriors a comfortable 38-17 cushion. —Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

1685, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1697, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scamper

• camper
• damper
• hamper
• pamper
• stamper
• tamper

Kids Definition

scamper

verb

scam·​per

ˈskam-pər

scampered; scampering

-p(ə-)riŋ

: to run lightly and usually playfully about

scamper noun