disperse

USAGE SUMMARY

'disperse' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an verb that means to scatter or spread something over a wide area. For example, "The birds quickly dispersed when they heard the loud noise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

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 using "disperse" in the context of crowd control, consider the connotations. It often implies the use of force or authority to break up a gathering.

Common error

Avoid using "disperse" when you mean for something to vanish entirely. "Disperse" implies scattering, not complete disappearance. For example, use "dissolve" or "vanish" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disperse" is as a transitive or intransitive verb. It describes the action of scattering, spreading out, or breaking up something, as seen in Ludwig's examples involving protesters and light rays. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as a verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disperse" is a versatile verb meaning to scatter or spread out. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It commonly appears in contexts related to news, formal writing, and scientific discussions. When using "disperse", it's essential to differentiate it from similar words like "dissolve" or "diffuse", ensuring accurate communication. Given its widespread use across multiple source types, "disperse" remains a valuable word in any writer's arsenal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scatter

Implies a less organized and more random distribution than "disperse".

spread out

Suggests a widening distribution, often over a defined area.

dissipate

Implies a gradual disappearance or fading away, not just a scattering.

break up

Suggests the termination of a gathering or assembly.

spread

Refers to the action of extending something over an area.

distribute

Implies a more controlled and intentional allocation.

circulate

Suggests movement in a loop or circuit.

propagate

Implies spreading or promoting something, like information or beliefs.

disseminate

Emphasizes a wide and pervasive distribution, especially of information.

broadcast

Suggests a wide and public transmission, often of information.

FAQs

How can I use "disperse" in a sentence?

You can use "disperse" to describe the action of scattering something, like, "The wind helped to disperse the seeds". It's also commonly used to describe breaking up a crowd, such as, "The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters".

What can I say instead of "disperse"?

You can use alternatives like "scatter", "spread out", or "dissipate", depending on the context. Each carries a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct: "disperse the crowd" or "dismiss the crowd"?

"Disperse the crowd" implies breaking up a gathering, often with force. "Dismiss the crowd" suggests formally releasing them, as you would "dismiss" a class. They have different meanings.

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

"Disperse" typically refers to scattering something tangible, like a crowd or seeds. "Diffuse" often refers to spreading something intangible, like light or information. For example, "The light was diffused through the curtains".