Word
scatter
Phoneticsscat·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskætɝ/
UK/skˈætɐ/
Definition
v. to throw or drop things in different directions so they cover a wide area. It can also describe a group of people or animals moving away from each other quickly.
v. to cause a group of objects or people to separate and move in diverse directions. Often used to describe the distribution of seeds or the dispersal of a crowd.
Examples
“The wind will scatter the leaves across the lawn.”
“The farmer began to scatter seeds over the freshly tilled soil before the rain started.”
“As the sirens grew louder, the protesters began to scatter into the narrow side streets to avoid the approaching police line.”
Examples
simple
“The wind will scatter the leaves across the lawn.”
contextual
“The farmer began to scatter seeds over the freshly tilled soil before the rain started.”
complex
“As the sirens grew louder, the protesters began to scatter into the narrow side streets to avoid the approaching police line.”
Usage
The verb is both transitive (to scatter something) and intransitive (the crowd scattered).
Pitfall
The papers scattered everywhere by the wind.
The papers were scattered everywhere by the wind.
When an outside force like wind moves the objects, the passive voice is required; 'scattered' alone implies the objects moved themselves.
Real-World Examples
“Two perform wheelies on electric scooters while another uses a long stick to scatter rubbish.” “Those stars do not simply scatter in every direction.” Etymology
From Middle English scateren, skateren, also schateren, * probably a variant of shatter, which is imitative; or from Old English sceaterian, probably from a dialect of Old Norse, possibly ultimately related to Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to cut, split, shatter”). Compare Middle Dutch scheteren (“to scatter”), Low German schateren, Dutch schateren (“to burst out laughing”); and is apparently remotely akin to Ancient Greek σκεδάννυμι (skedánnumi, “scatter, disperse”). and Tocharian B kät- (“to scatter, sow seeds”). Doublet of shatter.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/scatter