disperse
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /dɪsˈpɜːrs/
KK: /dɪsˈpɜrs/
intransitive verb
Definition
To break apart and move away from each other; to scatter in different directions.
Example
After the meeting, the group began to disperse and go their separate ways.
Tense Forms
Past: dispersed
Past Participle: dispersed
Conversation
Did you see how quickly the crowd dispersed after the concert?
Yeah, it was like everyone was in a hurry to leave!
I guess they just wanted to avoid the traffic.
Exactly! It’s always chaotic when people disperse like that.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
scatter
dissipate
separate
Antonyms
gather
assemble
converge
transitive verb
Definition
To cause something to spread out or move away in different directions.
Example
The teacher asked the students to disperse into small groups for the project.
Tense Forms
Past: dispersed
Past Participle: dispersed
Conversation
Did you see how the police had to disperse the crowd at the concert?
Yeah, it got a bit too rowdy for a moment there.
I wonder if they had a plan to disperse everyone safely.
Root Explanation
Disperse → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "spargere" (meaning to scatter). The word describes the action of scattering things apart from each other.
Memory Tip
Think of things being 'scattered apart' — 'dis-' means apart, and 'spargere' means to scatter.
Visually Confused Words
redisperse
undispersed
predisperse
misperuse
polydisperse
diverse
disease
asperse