# scatter

/ˈskætɝ/ (US) · /skˈætɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scatter
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The papers scattered everywhere by the wind." but "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.

## Usage notes

- The verb is both transitive (to scatter something) and intransitive (the crowd scattered).

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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.