WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•si•pate /ˈdɪsəˌpeɪt/USA pronunciation
v., -pat•ed, -pat•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to (cause to) become scattered in various directions;
disperse: [no object]The fog dissipated when the sun rose.[~ + object]The police managed to dissipate the mob in minutes. - to spend wastefully;
misspend:[~ + object]He dissipated his large inheritance.
dis•si•pate
(dis′ə pāt′),USA pronunciation v., -pat•ed, -pat•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
dis′si•pat′er, dis′si•pa′tor, n.
dis′si•pa′tive, adj.
dis•si•pa•tiv•i•ty
(dis′ə pə tiv′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- to scatter in various directions; disperse;
dispel. - to spend or use wastefully or extravagantly;
squander;
deplete:to dissipate one's talents; to dissipate a fortune on high living.
v.i.
- to become scattered or dispersed;
be dispelled;
disintegrate:The sun shone and the mist dissipated. - to indulge in extravagant, intemperate, or dissolute pleasure.
- Latin dissipātus (past participle of dissipāre, dissupāre to scatter); see -ate1
- 1525–35
dis′si•pa′tive, adj.
- 1. See scatter. 3. disappear, vanish.
- 1. 3. unite.