# dissipated

/ˈdɪsəˌpeɪtɪd/ (US) · /dˈɪsɪpˌeɪtɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dissipated
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

describing someone who spends too much time and money on physical pleasures like drinking or partying. It can also describe something that has scattered or disappeared.

For teachers: characterised by a pursuit of excessive pleasure and a lack of moral restraint; alternatively, refers to something that has been dispersed or scattered. Often used predicatively to describe a person's lifestyle or state of being.

## Examples

- He lived a dissipated life in the city.
- After years of dissipated living, the heir had very little of his original fortune left to spend.
- The morning sun soon reached the valley floor, and the thick fog that had settled overnight gradually dissipated until the air was perfectly clear.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'become' or 'remain' when describing a person's character.

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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.