dissipate

American

[dis-uh-peyt] / ˈdɪs əˌpeɪt /

verb (used with object)

dissipated, dissipating

to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel.

Antonyms:

unite
to spend or use wastefully or extravagantly; squander; deplete.

to dissipate one's talents; to dissipate a fortune on high living.

verb (used without object)

dissipated, dissipating

to become scattered or dispersed; be dispelled; disintegrate.

The sun shone and the mist dissipated.

Synonyms:

vanish, disappear

Antonyms:

unite
to indulge in extravagant, intemperate, or dissolute pleasure.

dissipate British

/ ˈdɪsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

to exhaust or be exhausted by dispersion
(tr) to scatter or break up
(intr) to indulge in the pursuit of pleasure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See scatter.

Other Word Forms

dissipater noun
dissipative adjective
dissipativity noun
dissipator noun
nondissipative adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissipate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dissipātus (past participle of dissipāre, dissupāre “to scatter”); see -ate ¹

Explanation

To dissipate is to disperse or fade away — as a bad smell will dissipate (usually) if you wait long enough. Dissipate can also mean “spend or use wastefully.” If you win the lottery, you might suddenly find yourself with a group of new friends encouraging you to dissipate your money (on them). Note that dissipate can be used with or without an object: "Once you dissipate your wealth, your new group of friends will dissipate without a trace."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing dissipate

List 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Night

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Lightning Thief

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But it must be actively defeated; it would be a grave mistake to assume it will dissipate after losing momentum or cannibalizing itself.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

The bullish analysts may be wrong, and the wave of demand for networking solutions may dissipate.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

All season, coach Andre Chevalier deployed a nine-player deep roster of stars, and the depth showed up again as the shock of losing Adams began to dissipate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

A clue to how quickly options traders thought the latest volatility spike could dissipate was seen in VIX futures, which remained below the VIX over recent sessions, a condition known in trader parlance as backwardation.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

With Ned gone and the divorce final, Holmes’s interest in Julia began to dissipate.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023