WordGarden.ioscramble
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /skrˈæmbəl/
US
- /ˈskræmbəl/
Meanings
Verb
to move or act quickly because of sudden urgency
to cook eggs by stirring them as they set
to mix or put something into a confused order
More meaningsFewer meanings
to climb or move awkwardly using the hands and feet
Noun
a hurried struggle or competition to get or do something
a rough climb that needs hands as well as feet
Beyond the definition
Think of a breakfast scramble—eggs, veggies, and maybe some cheese all tossed together in a pan! That's the basic idea behind "scramble." It means to mix things up quickly and often chaotically. But it's not just about food. You might scramble to finish a project before a deadline or witness players scramble for the ball during a football game. A scramble can be a frantic rush, but also a competitive effort.
The word evokes hurried movement and disorder. If your thoughts get scrambled, they become jumbled and confused. Sometimes, things get scrambled—like a radio signal or a phone line when there's interference. It can even mean climbing something using both your hands and feet. (Think of "rock scrambling" on a hiking trip.)
To scramble means to move quickly and somewhat clumsily, often in a rush or under pressure. Imagine a flock of birds suddenly taking flight or military jets being sent into the air at a moment's notice—that's a scramble! You might "scramble" to meet a deadline, meaning you work frantically and perhaps messily to get something done on time. "The students scrambled for the last few seats in the lecture hall" paints a picture of eager, slightly chaotic movement.
But "scramble" isn't limited to physical activity. It can also mean to mix things up thoroughly, like when you scramble eggs by breaking them and stirring everything together. Figuratively, it can mean to confuse or jumble something. If a message gets scrambled, its order or meaning becomes hard to follow.
Interestingly, "scramble" also refers to climbing over rough terrain using your hands and feet; rock scrambling is a popular outdoor activity that sits somewhere between hiking and rock climbing. In technology, to scramble data means to alter or encode it so it cannot be easily read in its original form.
So whether you're rushing to finish a task, mixing ingredients, navigating rocky ground, or protecting digital information, "scramble" suggests energetic, often chaotic action and a disruption of order. It's about getting things done—even if the process isn't exactly pretty!
Examples
- 1
Physical movement
We had to scramble over the rocks to reach the beach.
- 2
Sudden movement
She scrambled up from the floor when she heard someone at the door.
- 3
Deadline pressure
I was scrambling to finish the report before the meeting started.
- Patternscramble to do something
try to do it quickly because there is little time
- 4
Media rush
Reporters scrambled for a comment as the minister left the building.
- Patternscramble for + thing
rush to get it before others do
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Cooking
Can you scramble a couple of eggs for breakfast?
- 6
Mental confusion
The surprise question scrambled his thoughts for a moment.
- Patternscramble someone's thoughts
make someone confused for a short time
- 7
Competition
There was a scramble for seats when the train arrived.
- Patterna scramble for + thing
a rushed, competitive attempt to get it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- scramblenounverb
Forms
- scrambledpast tenseverbnoun
- scrambling-ing formverbnoun
- scramblespluralnounverb