scramble

1 of 2

verb

scram·​ble ˈskram-bəl 

scrambled; scrambling ˈskram-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move with urgency or panic

scrambled to his feet

b

: to move or climb hastily especially on all fours

scramble over rocks

2

a

: to struggle eagerly or unceremoniously for possession of something

scramble for front seats

players scrambling for the ball

b

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

scramble for a living

3

: to spread or grow irregularly : sprawl, straggle

4

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

5

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

transitive verb

1

: to collect or put together hastily

scramble up a dinner for unexpected guests

2

a

: 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

b

: to prepare (eggs) by stirring during frying

scramble some eggs for breakfast

3

: 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

4

: 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

1

: the act or an instance of scrambling: such as

a

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

a scramble over the boulders

b

: a jostling and pushing for possession

a scramble for the ball

c

: an eager and unceremonious or unscrupulous struggle

a scramble for power

d

: a rapid emergency takeoff of interceptor fighter aircraft

e

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.

2

: a disordered mass : jumble

a … scramble of patterns and textures

—Vogue

3

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

Synonyms

Verb

• clamber
• climb
• scrabble
• swarm

Noun

• agglomerate
• agglomeration
• alphabet soup
• assortment
• botch
• clutter
• collage
• crazy quilt
• farrago
• gallimaufry
• grab bag
• gumbo
• hash
• hodgepodge
• hotchpotch
• jambalaya
• jumble
• jungle
• litter
• macédoine
• medley
• mélange
• menagerie
• miscellanea
• miscellany
• mishmash
• mixed bag
• montage
• motley
• muddle
• olio
• olla podrida
• omnium-gatherum
• pastiche
• patchwork
• patchwork quilt
• potpourri
• ragbag
• ragout
• rummage
• salad
• salmagundi
• shuffle
• smorgasbord
• stew
• tumble
• variety
• welter

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

Verb

Some are scrambling to avoid the potential import taxes or preparing to pass the cost on to their customers. —Scott Horsley, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024

In the meantime, though, officials in the US have been scrambling to address theories about aliens and Iranian spy drones. —Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024

Noun

Lined up on the right side from the Saints’ 16, McLaurin ran a quick out, only to recognize that the play had turned into a scramble drill with Daniels headed toward the left sideline. —Ben Standig, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

But as Syria grapples with a new government and scrambles for new allies, the careful but charismatic fighter's extremist past casts a shadow over his future. —Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps alteration of scrabble entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1568, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scramble

1 of 2 verb

scram·​ble ˈskram-bəl 

scrambled; scrambling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to move with urgency or panic

b

: to move or climb hastily on all fours

2

: to strive or struggle for something

scramble for front seats

3

a

: to toss or mix together : jumble

b

: to cook the mixed whites and yolks of eggs by stirring them while frying

scrambler

-b(ə-)lər 

noun

scramble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a scrambling movement

2

: a disordered mess