scat·ter·ing
ˈska-tə-riŋ 
2
: something scattered: such as
a
: a small number or quantity interspersed here and there
a scattering of visitors
b
: the random change in direction of the particles constituting a beam or wave front due to collision with particles of the medium traversed
1
: going in various directions
2
: found or placed far apart and in no order
3
: divided among many or several
scattering votes
Examples of scattering in a Sentence
Noun
the scattering of the protesters suddenly turned violent and chaotic
a scattering of people in the mostly empty theater
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
Mountfield, 62, responded by questioning, with a scattering of expletives, who Fernandes even was.
—Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
It’s marked by vacant lots, a scattering of old deteriorating houses, and holds no hint of the thriving community that once resided there.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025
Ropes were fixed and the jolly-boat was hauled up to the main deck, where a scattering of sailors waited, gawking curiously.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scattering
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Noun
The music portion of the long-running Austin, Texas festival got started with a scattering of big and small shows around town as evening fell on March 11.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
Mountfield, 62, responded by questioning, with a scattering of expletives, who Fernandes even was.
—Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
It’s marked by vacant lots, a scattering of old deteriorating houses, and holds no hint of the thriving community that once resided there.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025
Ropes were fixed and the jolly-boat was hauled up to the main deck, where a scattering of sailors waited, gawking curiously.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scattering
Cite this Entry
“Scattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scattering. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scattering
1 of 2 noun
scat·ter·ing
ˈskat-ə-riŋ
1
: an act or process in which something scatters or is scattered
2
: something scattered
especially
: a small number or amount placed or found here and there
a scattering of visitors
scattering
2 of 2 adjective1
: going in various directions
2
: found or placed far apart and in no pattern
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