Scattered

/ˈskætərd/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To cause to separate and go in different directions.

The crowd scattered when the thunderstorm suddenly hit.

To distribute over an area in a random or irregular manner.

She scattered the seeds across the garden to ensure even growth.

adjective

Spread out over a wide area; distributed irregularly.

The children scattered across the playground, each finding their own space to play.

Not concentrated or gathered together; dispersed.

The scattered leaves danced in the wind as autumn took over the trees.

Occurring in various places or positions.

There were scattered reports of heavy rainfall in the region.

First used in Middle English, from the verb 'scatter', which is of Scandinavian origin.

scattered thoughts

thoughts that are unorganized or chaotic

scattered papers

papers that are not in order or are spread out

scattered showers

occasional rain showers that occur in various locations

scatter

to throw in various random directions

disperse

to distribute or spread over a wide area

strew

to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface

out of control or unfocused

After the party, my brain felt totally scattered.

feeling confused or disoriented

I was so tired I felt a little scattered.