dissipate

[ dis-uh-peyt ]
See synonyms for: dissipatedissipateddissipatesdissipating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dis·si·pat·ed, dis·si·pat·ing.
  1. to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel.

  2. 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),dis·si·pat·ed, dis·si·pat·ing.
  1. to become scattered or dispersed; be dispelled; disintegrate: The sun shone and the mist dissipated.

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

Origin of dissipate

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dissipātus (past participle of dissipāre, dissupāre “to scatter”); see -ate1

synonym study For dissipate

1. See scatter.

Other words for dissipate

Opposites for dissipate

Other words from dissipate

  • dis·si·pat·er, dis·si·pa·tor, noun
  • dis·si·pa·tive, adjective
  • dis·si·pa·tiv·i·ty [dis-uh-puh-tiv-i-tee], /ˌdɪs ə pəˈtɪv ɪ ti/, noun
  • non·dis·si·pa·tive, adjective

Words Nearby dissipate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dissipate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dissipate

dissipate

/ (ˈdɪsɪˌpeɪt) /


verb
  1. to exhaust or be exhausted by dispersion

  2. (tr) to scatter or break up

  1. (intr) to indulge in the pursuit of pleasure

Origin of dissipate

1
C15: from Latin dissipāre to disperse, from dis- 1 + supāre to throw

Derived forms of dissipate

  • dissipater or dissipator, noun
  • dissipative, adjective

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