Dissipate Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on October 3, 2025
Dissipate refers to cause something to disappear or disperse, or to scatter in various directions. e.g., The morning sun began to dissipate the fog.
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Dissipate Definitions
To spend or use wastefully or extravagantly; squander.
He dissipated his entire inheritance on frivolous purchases.
To lose energy or intensity, as when sound or heat dissipates over distance.
The sound of the bells dissipated as she walked further from the church.
To alleviate or reduce, often referring to feelings or emotions.
Talking about his problems helped dissipate his anger.
To transition from a state of concentration to one of dispersion.
The fog dissipated as the sun rose, clearing the view of the valley.
To disperse or scatter.
The crowd began to dissipate after the concert ended.
ADVERTISEMENT
To dissolve or cause to disappear, as with substances or chemical reactions.
The sugar quickly dissipated in the hot tea.
To cause to lose cohesive or structural integrity, often used in reference to social groups or gatherings.
The controversy began to dissipate the organization's unity.
To cause to vanish or fade away.
The heat from the radiator helped dissipate the dampness in the room.
To break up and drive off, as with clouds or smoke.
The wind helped dissipate the smoke from the bonfire.
To engage in intemperate or depleting activities, often leading to a state of exhaustion or depletion.
Years of dissipating in nightclubs left him tired and unfulfilled.
To break apart or attenuate to the point of disappearing
The wind finally dissipated the smoke.
To drive away; cause to vanish
A discovery that dissipated his doubts.
To spend or expend intemperately or wastefully; squander
Dissipated his fortune in casinos.
To use up, especially recklessly; exhaust
Dissipated their energy.
To cause to lose (energy, such as heat) irreversibly.
To be attenuated and vanish
The dark clouds finally dissipated.
To become dispelled; vanish
His anger dissipated in time.
(transitive) To drive away, disperse.
(transitive) To use up or waste; squander.
(intransitive) To vanish by dispersion.
(physics) To cause energy to be lost through its conversion to heat.
To be dissolute in conduct.
To scatter completely; to disperse and cause to disappear; - used esp. of the dispersion of things that can never again be collected or restored.
Dissipated those foggy mists of error.
I soon dissipated his fears.
The extreme tendency of civilization is to dissipate all intellectual energy.
To destroy by wasteful extravagance or lavish use; to squander.
The vast wealth . . . was in three years dissipated.
To separate into parts and disappear; to waste away; to scatter; to disperse; to vanish; as, a fog or cloud gradually dissipates before the rays or heat of the sun; the heat of a body dissipates.
To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; to engage in dissipation.
To cause to separate and go in different directions;
She waved her hand and scattered the crowds
Move away from each other;
The crowds dispersed
The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached
Spend frivolously and unwisely;
Fritter away one's inheritance
Live a life or pleasure, especially with respect to alcoholic consumption
Dissipate Snonyms
Scatter
To throw in various random directions.
The wind scattered the leaves across the lawn.
Dilute
To make thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
He diluted the paint to make it spread further.
Vanish
To disappear suddenly and completely.
The magician made the bird vanish into thin air.
Disperse
To scatter widely; spread apart.
The protesters dispersed quickly when the police arrived.
Squander
To waste something in a reckless and foolish manner.
She squandered her chances at promotion by missing deadlines.
Evaporate
To change from a liquid into a vapor.
The morning dew quickly evaporated under the hot sun.
Dissolve
To mix with a liquid and become part of the liquid.
The tablet dissolved in the glass of water.
Erode
To gradually wear away by abrasion or corrosion.
The riverbank eroded after several seasons of heavy rains.
Disintegrate
To break into parts or components or lose cohesion.
The old book's binding disintegrated over the years.
Deplete
To use up the supply or resources of.
The prolonged war depleted the country's national resources.
Dissipate Idioms & Phrases
Dissipate doubts
To remove uncertainties or suspicions.
His thorough explanation dissipated all doubts about the project.
Dissipate tension
To relieve or reduce tension.
The agreement between the two countries dissipated much of the tension.
Dissipate into thin air
To disappear completely, as if by magic.
The evidence seemed to dissipate into thin air.
Dissipate fears
To alleviate fears, making them lessen or disappear.
The safety demonstration helped dissipate fears among the passengers.
Dissipate the darkness
To cause darkness to vanish by introducing light.
The street lamps helped dissipate the darkness of the alley.
Dissipate into the atmosphere
To disperse into the air, typically used for gases or vapors.
The helium from the balloon slowly dissipated into the atmosphere.
Dissipate illusions
To destroy false beliefs or hopes.
The harsh realities of life quickly dissipated her illusions about fame.
Dissipate the crowd
To cause a crowd to break up and scatter.
The rain quickly dissipated the crowd gathered for the festival.
Dissipate energy
To cause energy to be used up or wasted.
The long hike dissipated much of their energy.
Dissipate heat
To disperse heat into the environment.
The new cooling system efficiently dissipates heat from the processor.
Dissipate confusion
To clarify a situation and reduce confusion.
The additional instructions helped dissipate any confusion about the assembly process.
Dissipate the mist
To cause mist to clear away.
The morning sun slowly dissipated the mist that had settled over the town.
Dissipate like smoke
To vanish or disappear as smoke does.
His dreams of success dissipated like smoke when he heard the news.
Dissipate anger
To calm down and reduce anger.
A sincere apology might dissipate his anger.
Dissipate over time
To gradually disappear or become less intense over time.
The pain from the injury dissipated over time.
Dissipate the fog
To cause fog to disperse and clear.
The rising sun began to dissipate the fog along the coastline.
Dissipate resources
To use up resources carelessly.
The company dissipated resources on risky investments.
Dissipate strength
To cause strength or energy to diminish.
The marathon runner felt his strength dissipate around the 20-mile mark.
Dissipate effects
To reduce or eliminate effects or impacts.
The medicine helped dissipate the effects of the migraine.
Dissipate a myth
To debunk or disprove a myth.
Recent studies have dissipated the myth that cold weather causes colds.
Dissipate Example Sentences
Rumors about the merger began to dissipate when the company issued a statement.
The police arrived to dissipate the unlawful assembly.
They tried to dissipate the smell with air fresheners.
The medicine helped to dissipate her headache.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in "dissipate"?
The stressed syllable in "dissipate" is the second syllable, "si".
How do we divide "dissipate" into syllables?
Dissipate is divided into syllables as "dis-si-pate".
Why is it called "dissipate"?
"Dissipate" comes from the Latin "dissipare," meaning to scatter, disperse, or squander, reflecting the action of spreading things widely or wasting them.
How many syllables are in "dissipate"?
There are three syllables in "dissipate".
How is "dissipate" used in a sentence?
e.g., The company's poor management dissipated its chances of success.
What is the third form of "dissipate"?
The third form of "dissipate" is "dissipated".
What is the root word of "dissipate"?
The root word of "dissipate" is the Latin "dissipare," meaning to scatter or disperse.
What is the first form of "dissipate"?
The first form of "dissipate" is "dissipate".
What is the pronunciation of "dissipate"?
Dissipate is pronounced as /ˈdɪs.ɪ.peɪt/.
What is another term for "dissipate"?
Another term for "dissipate" is "disperse".
What is the plural form of "dissipate"?
The verb "dissipate" does not have a plural form.
Is "dissipate" a negative or positive word?
"Dissipate" can have a negative connotation when it refers to wasting resources or a neutral connotation when referring to something fading away naturally.
Is "dissipate" a vowel or consonant?
"Dissipate" starts with a consonant.
Is "dissipate" a collective noun?
"Dissipate" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the "dissipate" term a metaphor?
"Dissipate" can be used metaphorically to describe the process of things vanishing or being wasted.
Which determiner is used with "dissipate"?
As a verb, "dissipate" does not typically use determiners.
What is the verb form of "dissipate"?
The verb form of "dissipate" is "dissipate".
What part of speech is "dissipate"?
"Dissipate" is a verb.
Is "dissipate" an adverb?
No, "dissipate" is not an adverb.
Is the word "dissipate" imperative?
"Dissipate" can be used in the imperative form in commands, e.g., "Dissipate these clouds of doubt."
Is the word “dissipate” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Dissipate" is a verb and does not function as an object.
Which vowel is used before "dissipate"?
There isn't a specific vowel used before "dissipate" as it is a verb.
What is the second form of "dissipate"?
The second form of "dissipate" is "dissipated".
What is the opposite of "dissipate"?
The opposite of "dissipate" could be "accumulate" or "gather".
Is "dissipate" an abstract noun?
"Dissipate" is a verb, not a noun.
Which article is used with "dissipate"?
As a verb, "dissipate" does not use articles.
What is the singular form of "dissipate"?
The singular form is "dissipate".
Is "dissipate" a noun or adjective?
"Dissipate" is a verb.
Is the word "dissipate" Gerund?
"Dissipating" is the gerund form of "dissipate".
Which preposition is used with "dissipate"?
Prepositions such as "into" (e.g., "dissipate into the air") are commonly used with "dissipate".
Which conjunction is used with "dissipate"?
Conjunctions aren't specifically associated with "dissipate"; usage depends on sentence structure.
Is "dissipate" a countable noun?
"Dissipate" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Roar Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Rejoice Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
