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disperse

verb
dis·​perse | \ di-ˈspÉ™rs How to pronounce disperse (audio) \
dispersed; dispersing

Definition of disperse

transitive verb

1a : to cause to break up (see break up sense 1a) police dispersed the crowd
b : to cause to become spread widely disperse the troops
c : to cause to evaporate or vanish sunlight dispersing the mist
2 : to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source: such as
a archaic : disseminate disperse the news
b physics : to subject to dispersion (see dispersion sense 4) disperse light
c chemistry : to distribute (something, such as fine particles) more or less evenly throughout a medium

intransitive verb

1 : to break up in random fashion the crowd dispersed on request
2a : to become dispersed the particles dispersed throughout the mixture
b : dissipate, vanish the fog dispersed toward morning
Other Words from disperse Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about disperse

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Other Words from disperse

dispersedly \ di-​ˈspÉ™r-​sÉ™d-​lÄ“ How to pronounce dispersedly (audio) , -​ˈspÉ™rst-​lÄ“ \ adverb
disperser noun
dispersible \ di-​ˈspÉ™r-​sÉ™-​bÉ™l How to pronounce dispersible (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for disperse

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up. scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions. the bowling ball scattered the pins disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group. police dispersed the crowd dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance. the fog was dissipated by the morning sun dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering. an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Examples of disperse in a Sentence

Police ordered the crowd to disperse. the crowd dispersed once the show ended

Recent Examples on the Web

 The last payment dispersed to Deriso from Sanders’ campaign was June 14. — Anna Beahm | [email protected], al, "Political operative wears hats for Birmingham’s Woodfin and Vermont’s Sanders," 1 Sep. 2019 As darkness fell, many protesters dispersed, but others blocked roads, set fire to barricades and hurled bricks and gasoline bombs at police in one of the most intense battles seen yet. — Los Angeles Times, "New violence erupts in Hong Kong after protesters march in defiance of police ban," 31 Aug. 2019 All three were charged with failure to disperse in that instance, with Hartman also facing a disorderly conduct charge. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Fairness Campaign leader arrested in protest at Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast," 22 Aug. 2019 Protesters dispersed earlier than usual after a week that saw several demonstrators make public apologies for the beating of two men at the airport last Tuesday (Aug. 13). — Mary Hui, Quartz, "Hong Kong’s moment of calm is in danger of being squandered," 20 Aug. 2019 The protest dispersed peacefully after Papua Governor Lukas Enembe asked participants to stop. — Laode Mursidin, BostonGlobe.com, "Protesters burn Parliament building in Indonesia’s Papua," 19 Aug. 2019 The Shasta Pack may have dispersed, but in 2015, trail cams verified five pups. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Bears, elk, sharks crown landmark wildlife surge," 17 Aug. 2019 Some of that money has since been dispersed to campaigns for other Democrats, the letter says, and to a political committee for the San Diego County Democratic Party. — Morgan Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego residents allege wrongdoing by campaign for Assemblyman Todd Gloria," 15 Aug. 2019 Some of the opposition gatherings in the past weeks did not receive official permission, and authorities deployed a sizeable police force to disperse peaceful protesters. — Washington Post, "Kremlin: Putin doesn’t think Moscow protests significant," 14 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disperse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of disperse

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology for disperse

Middle English, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere to scatter, from dis- + spargere to scatter — more at spark

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More Definitions for disperse

disperse

verb
How to pronounce disperse (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of disperse

: to go or move in different directions : to spread apart

See the full definition for disperse in the English Language Learners Dictionary

disperse

verb
dis·​perse | \ di-ˈspÉ™rs How to pronounce disperse (audio) \
dispersed; dispersing

Kids Definition of disperse

: to break up and scatter The clouds dispersed.

disperse

verb
dis·​perse | \ dis-ˈpÉ™rs How to pronounce disperse (audio) \
dispersed; dispersing

Medical Definition of disperse

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