disperse

verb

dis·​perse di-ˈspərs 

dispersed; dispersing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to break up (see break up sense 1a)

police dispersed the crowd

b

: to cause to become spread widely

disperse the troops

c

: to cause to evaporate or vanish

sunlight dispersing the mist

2

: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: such as

a

archaic : disseminate

disperse the news

b

physics : to subject to dispersion (see dispersion sense 4)

disperse light

c

chemistry : to distribute (something, such as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium

intransitive verb

1

: to break up in random fashion

the crowd dispersed on request

2

a

: to become dispersed

the particles dispersed throughout the mixture

b

: dissipate, vanish

the fog dispersed toward morning

dispersedly

di-ˈspər-səd-lē 

-ˈspərst-lē

adverb

disperser noun

dispersible

di-ˈspər-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• disassemble
• dissipate
• dissolve
• scatter

Choose the Right Synonym for disperse

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 disperse in a Sentence

Police ordered the crowd to disperse.

the crowd dispersed once the show ended

Recent Examples on the Web

North Korean soldiers were dispersed in Vladivostok, as well as other far eastern cities of Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk for training last month, according to the NIS. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Each dot represents five voters for a particular candidate, and they are randomly dispersed throughout the precinct (in other words, the dot does not represent the exact address where the voters live). —Kunle Falayi, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

That breakage and dilution of the relationship is, in essence, what happens to company culture when everyone is dispersed. —Mo Hamzian, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Crowds dispersed in all directions as gunfire rang out, according to the footage. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere to scatter, from dis- + spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

disperse

verb

dis·​perse dis-ˈpərs 

dispersed; dispersing

1

: to cause to become spread widely : scatter

police dispersed the crowd

2

: to subject (as light) to dispersion

3

: to move in different directions

the clouds dispersed

Medical Definition

disperse

verb

dis·​perse dis-ˈpərs 

dispersed; dispersing

transitive verb

: to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: as

a

: to subject (as light) to dispersion

b

: to distribute (as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium

intransitive verb

: to become dispersed