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scramble
/ˈskræm.bəl/
to move or act quickly in a disorganized way
The children scrambled to get the last piece of cake.
The children moved quickly and chaotically to grab the last piece of cake.
informal
to move or act quickly in a disorganized or hurried manner
We scrambled to finish the project before the deadline.
We worked quickly and chaotically to complete the project on time.
Often implies urgency and lack of coordination.
informal
to compete fiercely for something, often in a chaotic way
Investors scrambled to buy the new cryptocurrency.
Investors competed intensely and hurriedly to purchase the new cryptocurrency.
Used in contexts like business, finance, or social situations.
informal
to mix or combine ingredients roughly
Scramble the eggs with a fork.
Mix the eggs roughly with a fork.
Commonly used in cooking instructions.
Collocations
scramble forto compete fiercely for somethingscramble toto hurry to do something
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'scramble' for both literal and figurative quick, chaotic actions.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Ensure the context supports the intended meaning (physical movement vs. competition).
Word Origin
From Middle English 'scramelen' (to move quickly), possibly from Old Norse 'skrammr' (agile).
Usage Notes
Can be used literally (physical movement) or figuratively (competition, urgency).
Word Breakdown
scram-
quick movement
root-ble
able to be done
suffixEnglish Dictionary