# dissipate

/ˈdɪsəˌpeɪt/ (US) · /dˈɪsɪpˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dissipate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to waste resources

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to waste something, especially money or time, on things that are not important.

For teachers: to squander or expend wastefully. Typically applied to inherited wealth, resources, or opportunities.

- He dissipated his small fortune on expensive cars and luxury holidays.
- The heir dissipated the family's substantial estate within a decade, leaving his descendants with nothing but debt.

Usage: Transitive; requires a direct object representing the resource being wasted.

Teaching tip: This sense is more formal than 'waste' and implies a lack of discipline.

### 3. energy loss

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to lose energy by turning it into heat.

For teachers: to cause energy to be lost through its conversion into a non-useful form, such as heat.

- The car's brakes dissipate energy as heat when you slow down quickly.
- Engineers designed the new processor with advanced cooling systems to dissipate the heat generated during high-performance tasks.

Usage: Commonly used in physics and engineering contexts regarding heat or electricity.

## Examples

- The smoke began to dissipate in the morning sun.
- The crowd started to dissipate as the rain began to fall heavily and the event ended.
- As the heat from the engine dissipates into the surrounding air, the vehicle's performance stabilizes and the risk of overheating decreases significantly.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.