scramble

[ skram-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, scram·bled, scram·bling.

1. to climb or move quickly using one's hands and feet, as down a rough incline.
2. to compete or struggle with others for possession or gain:

   The children scrambled for the coins we tossed.

3. to move hastily and with urgency:

   She scrambled into her coat and ran out the door.

4. Military. (of pilots or aircraft) to take off as quickly as possible to intercept enemy planes.

verb (used with object)

, scram·bled, scram·bling.

1. to collect or organize (things) in a hurried or disorderly manner (often followed by together or up ):

   He scrambled the papers up from the desk. I scrambled the report together at the last minute.

2. to mix together confusedly:

   The teacher has hopelessly scrambled our names and faces.

3. to cause to move hastily, as if in panic:

   He scrambled everyone out of the burning building.

4. to cook (eggs) in a pan while stirring, usually after mixing whites and yolks together.
5. to make (a radio or telephonic message) incomprehensible to interceptors by systematically changing the transmission frequencies.
6. to mix the elements of (a television signal) so that only subscribers with a decoding box can receive the signal.
7. Military. to cause (an intercepting aircraft or pilot) to take off in the shortest possible time, in response to an alert.

noun

1. a quick climb or progression over rough, irregular ground.
2. a struggle for possession or gain:

   a scramble for choice seats in the stadium.

3. any disorderly or hasty struggle or proceeding.
4. Military. an emergency takeoff of interceptors performed in the shortest possible time.

scramble

/ ˈskræmbəl /

verb

1. intr to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement
2. intr to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion
3. introften foll byfor to compete with others, esp in a disordered manner

   to scramble for a prize

4. intrfoll bythrough to deal with hurriedly and unsystematically
5. tr to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble
6. tr to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner
7. tr to cook (eggs that have been whisked up with milk and seasoning) in a pan containing a little melted butter
8. military to order (a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately or (of a crew or aircraft) to take off immediately
9. tr to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler

noun

1. the act of scrambling
2. a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc
3. a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession
4. military an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc
5. a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground

Word History and Origins

Origin of scramble¹

1580–90; blend of dial. scamble to stumble along, and scrabble (in the same sense)

Word History and Origins

Origin of scramble¹

C16: blend of scrabble and ramp

Example Sentences

Movie houses and entertainment companies have increasingly come to rely on movies that become viral, must-see cultural phenomena, a trend that accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic scrambled audience behaviors and studio strategies.

From Los Angeles Times

But the industry has been left scrambling again, with only a few months left until the 2025 academic year begins.

From BBC

For Beijing, scrambling to meet rapidly growing electricity demand, nuclear had, and still has, a vital role to play.

From BBC

That’s sent water treatment operators scrambling to find ways to decontaminate water supplies without breaking the bank.

From Science Magazine

Los Angeles is the only major city in the country without one, which forces its public works departments to beg and scramble for funding every year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clamber
• climb
• contend
• crawl
• jostle
• push
• rush
• scurry
• vie