Disperse — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈspərs/ dis·perse

Meaning & Definition of Disperse

Disperse (verb)

  1. to cause to break up
  2. to cause to become spread widely
  3. to cause to evaporate or vanish

Disperse (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go off in different directions and cease to exist as a body or unified whole

    "the crowd dispersed once the show ended"

    similar: disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter
    related: branch (out), break up, disband, diverge, divide, fork, separate, spill, clear, disappear, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, go (away), melt
    near: congregate, gather, meet

  2. to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart

    "the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park"

    similar: clear out, disband, dispel, dissipate, scatter, squander
    related: break up, isolate, part, segregate, separate, split (up), diffuse, disseminate, diverge, spread
    opposite: assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather
    near: agglutinate, conglomerate, unify, unite

  3. to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization

    "the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election"

    similar: break up, disband, dissolve
    related: demobilize
    opposite: band, join, unite
    near: incorporate, consolidate, hang together

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disperse

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disperse:

disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter, clear out, disband, dispel, squander, break up

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disperse

Words with the opposite meaning of Disperse:

assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather, band, join, unite

Related Words for Disperse

branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, separate, spill, clear, disappear, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, go (away), melt, isolate, part, segregate, split (up), diffuse, disseminate, spread, demobilize

Near Antonyms of Disperse

meet, agglutinate, conglomerate, unify, incorporate, consolidate, hang together

Word Forms of Disperse

Inflections: dispersed, dispersing

Derived words: dispersedly (adverb), disperser (noun), dispersible (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Disperse

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

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Disperse

Frequently Asked Questions about Disperse

What does "Disperse" mean?

"Disperse" means to cause to break up. As a verb, it is defined as: to cause to break up. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disperse"?

Other words for "Disperse" include disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter, clear out, disband, dispel and squander. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disperse" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disperse"?

There are 31 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disperse". Common alternatives include disassemble, dissipate, dissolve, scatter, clear out, disband, dispel, squander and break up.

What is the opposite of "Disperse"?

Antonyms of "Disperse" include assemble, cluster, collect, concentrate, congregate, gather, ingather and band. Near antonyms include meet, agglutinate, conglomerate and unify.

How do you use "Disperse" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disperse" in a sentence: "the crowd dispersed once the show ended"; "the family of the missing woman dispersed searchers to all corners of the national park"; "the campaign staff dispersed almost immediately after the election".

Is "Disperse" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disperse" is a verb.

Is "Disperse" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Disperse" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Disperse"?

"Disperse" is pronounced /di-ˈspərs/ and divided into syllables as dis·perse.