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verb

dissipate

DIH-sih-payt

Dissipate (verb) means to gradually scatter or disappear. Example: “The morning fog dissipated as the sun rose.”

verb
1
To gradually scatter or disappear.
"The morning fog dissipated as the sun rose."
"Tension in the room slowly dissipated once he apologized."
2
To waste or squander resources, money, or energy.
"He dissipated his inheritance on gambling within a few years."

How to use dissipate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo slowly disappear or spread out, or to waste something like money or energy.

Common pairings
dissipate energy fog dissipates dissipate one's fortune

Word forms

more dissipate comparative, dissipated past tense, dissipates singular, most dissipate superlative

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The morning fog _____ as the sun rose.

Etymology

From Latin dissipare, "to scatter, disperse," from dis- ("apart") + supare/supō ("to throw").

Origin: Latin

shoot fool scatter disperse dispel fritter break up fool away spread out frivol away fritter away

Related words

Rhymes for dissipate

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dissipate” mean?

The word “dissipate” means to gradually scatter or disappear. In plain terms, to slowly disappear or spread out, or to waste something like money or energy.

How do you pronounce “dissipate”?

“Dissipate” is pronounced DIH-sih-payt (/ˈdɪsɪpeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “dissipate” in a sentence?

Here is “dissipate” used in a sentence: “The morning fog dissipated as the sun rose.”

What part of speech is “dissipate”?

“Dissipate” is a verb.

Where does the word “dissipate” come from?

The word “dissipate” comes from Latin. From Latin dissipare, "to scatter, disperse," from dis- ("apart") + supare/supō ("to throw").

How many meanings does “dissipate” have?

“Dissipate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gradually scatter or disappear.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial