scramble

1 of 2

verb

scram·ble ˈskram-bəl

scrambled; scrambling ˈskram-b(ə-)liŋ

Synonyms of scramble next

intransitive verb

: to move with urgency or panic

scrambled to his feet

: to move or climb hastily especially on all fours

scramble over rocks

: to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something

scramble for front seats

players scrambling for the ball

: to get or gather something with difficulty or in irregular ways

scramble for a living

: to spread or grow irregularly : sprawl, straggle

of an interceptor fighter aircraft : to take off quickly in response to an alert

of a football quarterback : to run with the ball after the pass protection breaks down

transitive verb

: to collect or put together hastily

scramble up a dinner for unexpected guests

: to toss or mix together in confusion : to throw into disorder : jumble

Bad weather often scrambles the train schedules.

scrambled the pages of the manuscript

: to prepare (eggs) by stirring during frying

scramble some eggs for breakfast

: to cause or order (interceptor fighter aircraft) to take off quickly

Keating said he ordered the fighters to be scrambled immediately after seeing information about the crash on television.—

Lolita C. Baldor

: to disarrange the elements of a transmission (such as a telephone or television signal) in order to make unintelligible to interception

scrambler

ˈskram-b(ə-)lər

noun

scramble

2 of 2

noun

: the act or an instance of scrambling: such as

: the act of moving or climbing over something quickly especially on all fours

a scramble over the boulders

: a jostling and pushing for possession

a scramble for the ball

: an eager and unceremonious or unscrupulous struggle

a scramble for power

: a rapid emergency takeoff of interceptor fighter aircraft

football : a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball while being chased by defensive players after the pass protection breaks down

He gained 10 yards on the scramble.

: a disordered mass : jumble

a … scramble of patterns and textures—

Vogue

golf : a team competition in which all the members of a team tee off on each hole, one of the tee shots is selected, all members hit shots from the position of the selected shot, one shot is again selected, and the process is continued until the hole is completed

Sawgrass seemed a far cry from the first competitive golf event I ever played in, a weekend scramble at my local club.—

David Owen

Examples of scramble in a Sentence

Verb We scrambled over the boulders and kept climbing up the mountain. He scrambled up the ramp. reporters scrambling to finish stories by deadline Both players scrambled for the ball. News of the factory closing found workers scrambling to find jobs. It started to rain, and we all scrambled for cover. I'll scramble some eggs for breakfast. Noun a quick scramble over boulders the scramble for power in the country a scramble for the ball There was a mad scramble to fill vacant positions at the school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

This unexpected event forced Ansa to scramble for a new banking partner, incurring additional costs and delays. —

Geri Stengel, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Michiganders returned to dining out, and restaurants scrambled to hire, increasing wages and prices. —

Annalise Frank, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024

Noun

Copied Share Chargers 7, Bengals 3 Andrew Greif Justin Herbert extended the Chargers’ second drive of the night with his legs, picking up 20 yards on a scramble, and then ended it with another highlight. —

Andrew Greif, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024 When your travel plans suddenly veer off course, figuring out what to do next can feel like a scramble. —

Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scramble