Disperse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Disperse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of scattering or spreading out a group of people or things. Example: "The police ordered the crowd to disperse after the event ended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In another neighbourhood youths destroyed a police vehicle and officers fired tear gas to try to disperse protesters.

The Guardian

The officers did not tell the man to stop filming, but Rice allegedly took out his Taser and threatened to use it if the witnesses did not disperse.

The Guardian

Their son Faris spent his childhood holidays in the West Bank playing football with his cousins, whose extended families had been forced to disperse all round the world, and he only got in to boarding school on a scholarship.

The Guardian - Music

Maybe, just maybe, the dark clouds that have glowered over efforts to tackle global warming for years are starting to disperse and let the sunlight in.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, the police used teargas to disperse angry locals.

The Guardian

These threats result in a loss in the species' ability to shelter, breed, disperse, and feed".

The Guardian

On Wednesday evening the Police Service of Northern Ireland had to fire baton rounds to disperse a mob of up to 1,000 loyalists in Carrickfergus, East Antrim after the local Alliance constituency office there was set alight.

The Guardian

After they sat down the police issued two orders to disperse and arrests began.

The Guardian - Business

They said "a small number of people created an unsafe environment" and the New Jersey state police were on the scene to disperse the crowd.

The Guardian

As the night wore on, and tensions heightened, some protesters tried to shut down a freeway, while others broke windows and refused to disperse when ordered by police.

The Guardian

They used teargas and water hoses to disperse the protest, and arrested a few people.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about crowd control, use "disperse" to convey a controlled and orderly movement or scattering of people. For instance, authorities "disperse" a crowd using specific methods or instructions.

Common error

Avoid using "disperse" when you mean to "disburse". "Disperse" means to scatter, while "disburse" means to pay out money. For example, "The funds were disbursed to the beneficiaries", not "dispersed".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disperse" is as a verb. It describes the action of scattering, spreading out, or causing something to vanish. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used in various contexts such as crowd control or describing the movement of clouds.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "disperse" functions as a verb that means to scatter, spread out, or vanish. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as in formal and scientific contexts. When writing, it's crucial to distinguish "disperse" from "disburse" and to choose synonyms such as "scatter" or "spread out" based on the intended nuance. As the numerous examples show, "disperse" is a versatile word suitable for a range of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Scatter

This term implies a less organized spreading than "disperse".

Spread out

This phrase suggests a more even distribution over an area.

Dissipate

This term often refers to the gradual disappearance of something, like a crowd or fog.

Break up

This phrase refers to causing a group to separate.

Disband

This implies a formal termination of a group or organization.

Dispel

This term is used to eliminate doubts, fears, or false beliefs.

Diffuse

Suggests spreading something more abstract like light or information.

Broadcast

This phrase refers to wide communication of information to a large audience.

Distribute

This term focuses on the act of giving portions of something to multiple recipients.

Circulate

This refers to the movement of something around a closed system or space.

FAQs

How is "disperse" typically used in a sentence?

The verb "disperse" is used to describe the action of scattering, spreading out, or causing something to vanish. For example, "The police used tear gas to "disperse the crowd"" or "The clouds began to "disperse after the storm"".

What are some synonyms for "disperse"?

Synonyms for "disperse" include "scatter", "spread out", "dissipate", "break up", and "disband". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "disperse" and "dissipate"?

"Disperse" implies scattering or spreading out, often with an agent causing the action. "Dissipate", on the other hand, usually means to gradually vanish or fade away, often without a clear external cause. For example, you might "disperse" a crowd, but fog "dissipates" naturally.

Is it correct to use "disperse" when talking about distributing funds?

No, "disperse" is not the correct word when talking about distributing funds. The correct term is "disburse", which means to pay out or distribute money.