scatter

1 of 2

verb

scat·​ter ˈska-tər How to pronounce scatter (audio)
scattered; scattering; scatters

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to separate widely
b
: to cause to vanish
2
archaic : to fling away heedlessly : squander
3
: to distribute irregularly
4
: to sow by casting in all directions : strew
5
a
: to reflect irregularly and diffusely
b
: to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse
6
: to divide into ineffectual small portions

intransitive verb

1
: to separate and go in various directions : disperse
2
: to occur or fall irregularly or at random
scatterer noun

scatter

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act of scattering
2
: a small quantity or number irregularly distributed or strewn about : scattering
3
: the state or extent of being scattered
especially : dispersion
Choose the Right Synonym for scatter

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 scatter in a Sentence

Verb The wind scattered the pile of leaves. The marbles scattered across the floor. She scattered the books on the table. He scatters his toys all around the house. Noun played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Unlike astrophysical black holes, these primordial black holes formed when dense pockets of gas collapsed in the seconds after the Big Bang and scattered throughout the universe because of expansion. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2024 Its members were very different from one another, often at odds on various matters, and scattered around the globe—hardly the recipe for meaningful partnership. Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2024
Noun
How quickly provenance scatters in the digital winds. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2024 When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scatter 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scatter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scateren, schateren to disperse, break up, destroy; akin to Middle Dutch schaderen to scatter

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scatter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scatter

Cite this Entry

“Scatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scatter. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

scatter

verb
scat·​ter
ˈskat-ər
1
: to cause to separate widely
wind scattered the dry leaves
2
: to place or leave here and there
scattered their toys all over the house
3
: to sow widely and without pattern
4
: to separate and go in different directions
the crowd scattered
5
: to occur or fall without pattern
lakes scattered everywhere in the hills

Medical Definition

scatter

1 of 2 transitive verb
scat·​ter ˈskat-ər How to pronounce scatter (audio)
: to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

scatter

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of scattering
2
: the state or extent of being scattered
especially : scattering

More from Merriam-Webster on scatter

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