Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scrambles, present participle scrambling, past tense, past participle scrambled
1. verb
If you scramble over rocks or up a hill, you move quickly over them or up it using your hands to help you.
Tourists were scrambling over the rocks looking for the perfect camera angle. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He scrambled up a steep bank. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: struggle, climb, clamber, push More Synonyms of scramble
2. verb
If you scramble to a different place or position, you move there in a hurried, awkward way.
Ann threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He scrambled to his feet. [VERB preposition/adverb]
3. verb
If a number of people scramblefor something, they compete energetically with each other for it.
More than three million fans are expected to scramble for tickets. [VERB + for]
Business is booming and foreigners are scrambling to invest. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: strive, rush, contend, vie More Synonyms of scramble
Scramble is also a noun.
...the scramble for jobs.
...a scramble to get a seat on the early-morning flight.
4. verb
If you scramble eggs, you break them, mix them together and then heat and stir the mixture in a pan.
Make the toast and scramble the eggs. [VERB noun]
scrambledadjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
...scrambled eggs on toast.
5. verb
If a device scrambles a radio or telephone message, it interferes with the sound so that the message can only be understood by someone with special equipment.
The machine scrambles messages so that the conversations cannot be intercepted. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of scramble
scramble in British English
(ˈskræmbəl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to climb or crawl, esp by using the hands to aid movement
2. (intransitive)
to proceed hurriedly or in a disorderly fashion
3. (intransitive; often foll byfor)
to compete with others, esp in a disordered manner
to scramble for a prize
4. (intransitive; foll bythrough)
to succeed in some undertaking in spite of lack of organization
5. (transitive)
to throw together in a haphazard manner; jumble
6. (transitive)
to collect in a hurried or disorganized manner
7. (transitive)
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. (transitive)
to render (speech) unintelligible during transmission by means of an electronic scrambler
noun
10.
the act of scrambling
11.
a climb over rocks that involves the use of the hands but not ropes, etc
12.
a disorderly struggle, esp to gain possession
13. military
an immediate preparation for action, as of crew, aircraft, etc
14. British
a motorcycle rally in which competitors race across rough open ground
Word origin
C16: blend of scrabble and ramp
scramble in American English
(ˈskræmbəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈscrambled or ˈscrambling
1.
to climb, crawl, or clamber hurriedly
2.
to scuffle or struggle for something, as for coins scattered on the ground
3.
to struggle or rush pell-mell, as to get something highly prized
to scramble for political office
4.
to get military aircraft into the air quickly
5. US, American Football
to maneuver about in the backfield while seeking an open receiver to whom to pass the ball; also, to run with the ball if unable to find a receiver
verb transitive
6.
a.
to throw together haphazardly; mix in a confused way; jumble
b. Electronics
to modify (transmitted auditory or visual signals) so as to make unintelligible without special receiving equipment
7.
to gather haphazardly; collect without method
often with up
8. US
to cook (eggs) while stirring the mixed whites and yolks
9.
to order or get (military aircraft) into the air quickly
noun
10.
a hard, hurried climb or advance, as over rough, difficult ground
11.
a disorderly struggle or rush, as for something prized
12.
a disorderly heap; jumble
13.
a quick takeoff of military aircraft
Derived forms
scrambler (ˈscrambler)
noun
Word origin
< ? scamper + scrabble
Examples of 'scramble' in a sentence
scramble
There is also a scramble to fill the vacancies at the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We grab a quick drink before scrambling off to climb a huge dune and watch the sunset.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We scramble up the bank onto a stone bridge.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But it was fast and it turned opponents round and made them scramble to get back.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Investors are also scrambling to buy dollars before an expected devaluation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The crew scrambled to the site in the minutes after the first blast and landed just moments after the second.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The crew scrambled into rescue boats.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Aircraft were scrambled and destroyed the boats, he added.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Two air ambulances, police and fire crews were scrambled but the mum and daughter went into cardiac arrest.
The Sun (2013)
She scrambled into action, campaigning for the right to adopt Rex.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
At one point I was signing trading cards with my picture and likeness on them to scramble together $5,000 to make the next house payment.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
scramble
British English: scramble VERB
If you scramble over rocks or up a hill, you move quickly over them or up it using your hands to help you.
Tourists were scrambling over the rocks looking for the perfect camera angle.
American English: scramble
Brazilian Portuguese: subir
Chinese: 攀爬
European Spanish: subir gateando
French: avancer péniblement
German: klettern
Italian: inerpicarsi
Japanese: よじ登る
Korean: > 기어오르다재빨리
European Portuguese: subir
Latin American Spanish: subir gateando
Chinese translation of 'scramble'
scramble
(ˈskræmbl)
vi
(= clamber)
to scramble up/down/over sth爬上/下/过(過)某物 (páshàng/xià/guò mǒuwù)
to scramble into/out of sth仓(倉)促进(進)入/出某处(處) (cāngcù jìnrù/chū mǒuchù)
to scramble for sth/to do sth (= compete) 争(爭)抢(搶)某物/做某事 (zhēngqiǎng mǒuwù/zuò mǒushì)