scatter

verb scat·ter \ ˈska-tər \

Definition of scatter

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

play \ˈska-tər-ər\ noun

See scatter defined for English-language learners

See scatter defined for kids

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of scatter from the Web

On a hot summer day in Nevada City, California, a group of teenage girls are scattered before a stage in the town’s cultural center.

— joy lanzendorfer, The Atlantic, "Why Aren’t There More Women Working in Audio?," 30 Aug. 2017
Our other members are scattered all over the country, and the group helps us coordinate actions and stay aware of what’s happening in other states.

— sara sligar, Teen Vogue, "How an Activism Group Text Is Helping Me Stay Accountable," 15 Aug. 2017
Those left standing scattered, screaming and running for safety.

— Bloomberg.com, "Man Accused of Ramming Protesters Pictured With Racist Group," 13 Aug. 2017
Scattered flooding possible, so proceed carefully if outdoors tonight.

— toriano porter eric adler robert a. cronkleton and joe robertson, kansascity, "Torrential storms dump up to 5 inches of rain in KC area, causing flash flooding," 6 Aug. 2017
After the inauguration, a lot of deeply knowledgeable people will scatter to the four winds and be forbidden, by federal law, from initiating any contact with their replacements.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017
After the inauguration, a lot of deeply knowledgeable people will scatter to the four winds and be forbidden, by federal law, from initiating any contact with their replacements.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017
After the inauguration, a lot of deeply knowledgeable people will scatter to the four winds and be forbidden, by federal law, from initiating any contact with their replacements.

— michael lewis, vanityfair.com, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 26 July 2017
The university has buildings scattered across the town, including some of the majestic granite mansions along the Scores, a clifftop street that winds downhill from the castle (also 12th-century) to the first tee of the Old Course.

— howard swains, Town & Country, "How Scotland's University of St. Andrews Became a Top American School," 24 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of scatter

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms

clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, squander

Antonyms

assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather

Related Words

break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up); diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread

Near Antonyms

agglutinate, conglomerate; unify, unite

Synonym Discussion of 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

scatter

noun

Definition of scatter

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

See scatter defined for English-language learners

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium

Recent Examples of scatter from the Web

According to the complaint, the group scatters as the beating begins except for one man, later identified as Gilmore, who sits against the building and watches while Cleveland is assaulted.

— author: suzanna caldwell, Alaska Dispatch News, "3 men charged with fatal stabbing of man in Midtown Anchorage," 23 Aug. 2017
But where x-rays scatter off the cloud of electrons surrounding an atom, neutrons scatter off atomic nuclei.

— edwin cartlidge, Science | AAAS, "Rising costs hamper mega–neutron beam facility," 24 July 2017
Here, a scatter of charred religious pamphlets, one with a special prayer for patients healing from wounds and injuries.

— nabih bulos, latimes.com, "The 'caliphate' is all but lost, yet Islamic State's threat remains potent," 14 July 2017
As the fish scatter into the colder water of the river arm, Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger or blue/chrome Kastmasters will do the trick for trollers.

— by roger george and dave hurley, sacbee.com, "Fishing report: Week of June 5," 6 June 2017
Seven legislative weeks are left before Congress scatters for the five-week August recess.

— Fox News, "Spending bills, debt ceiling complicate Hill Republicans efforts on taxes, ObamaCare," 3 June 2017
The Royals scored two more runs in the seventh via a scatter-shot rally against the Tampa Bay bullpen.

— rustin dodd, kansascity.com, "Royals display fight in 7-6 comeback victory over Rays," 9 May 2017
In debates and jury trials, doubts like this scatter like seeds.

— jessica nordell, The Atlantic, "Is This How Discrimination Ends?," 7 May 2017
When that happens, the refraction scatters light, blocking out whatever’s underneath.

— nathan hurst, Smithsonian, "Can a Camera, a QR Code and Some Bubbles Test For E. Coli In Our Food?," 18 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of scatter

1642

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms

couple, handful, few, scattering, smatter, smattering, sprinkle, sprinkling

SCATTER Defined for English Language Learners

scatter

verb

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

: to cause (things or people) to separate and go in different directions
: to separate and go in different directions
: to place or leave (things) in different places

scatter

noun

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

: a small number or group of things placed or found apart from each other

SCATTER Defined for Kids

scatter

verb scat·ter \ ˈska-tər \

Definition of scatter for Students

scattered; scattering

1 :to toss, sow, or place here and there

He scattered his toys all around the house.

2 :to separate or cause to separate and go in different ways

The crowd suddenly scattered.

Medical Dictionary

scatter

transitive verb scat·ter \ ˈskat-ər \

medical Definition of scatter

:to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

scatter

noun

medical Definition of scatter

1 :the act of scattering

2 :the state or extent of being scattered; especially :scattering

Learn More about scatter

See words that rhyme with scatter Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scatter Spanish Central: Translation of scatter Nglish: Translation of scatter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scatter for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up scatter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

scatter

Definition of scatter

scatterer

People Are Reading

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of scatter from the Web

Origin and Etymology of scatter

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of scatter

scatter

Definition of scatter

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

Recent Examples of scatter from the Web

First Known Use of scatter

scatter Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to SCATTER

Related Phrases

SCATTER Defined for English Language Learners

scatter

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

scatter

Definition of scatter for English Language Learners

SCATTER Defined for Kids

scatter

Definition of scatter for Students

Medical Dictionary

scatter

medical Definition of scatter

scatter

medical Definition of scatter

Learn More about scatter

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066