ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dispersed

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈspɝst// UK //dɪspˈɜːsd// dis·persed

v. to spread out or move away in different directions. You use this when a group of people or things breaks up and goes to many different places.

v. to scatter or distribute over a wide area; to cause a crowd or collection of things to break up and move in different directions. Transitive when an agent causes the scattering, or intransitive when the group moves apart on its own.


SIMPLE

The police ordered the crowd to dispersed after the event.

CONTEXTUAL

The seeds are dispersed by the wind, allowing the plant to grow in many different parts of the field.

COMPLEX

Once the lecture concluded, the students dispersed into the surrounding streets, their lively conversations echoing through the narrow alleys as they headed toward various local cafés.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb can be used transitively ('the wind dispersed the clouds') or intransitively ('the crowd dispersed').

Pitfall

The crowd was dispersed to their homes.The crowd dispersed to their homes.When a group moves apart naturally, use the active voice; 'was dispersed' implies a forceful external power made them leave.

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