scatter

1 of 2

verb

scat·​ter ˈska-tər 

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

ˈska-tər-ər 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• clear out
• disband
• dispel
• disperse
• dissipate
• squander

Noun

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

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

Up until now, the DC universe’s TV presence has been scattered all across the network and streaming landscape, from the Greg Berlanti–produced CW shows in the Arrowverse to Fox’s Gotham to Max’s animated Harley Quinn series — but almost entirely excluded from the TV-awards conversation. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Soon, more people showed up from the bar and the four males scattered. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024

Noun

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. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 29 Oct. 2024

Scattered light rays that enter the eye pass through multiple ocular components that reduce the scatter to focus the rays onto the retina, which converts the light into an electrical signal that is transferred through the optic nerve. —Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing scatter

• scatter cushion
• scatter diagram
• scatter rug

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 

: 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