Scrambling: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when things are moved around quickly and often in a chaotic manner. Often implies urgency or confusion.

• After hearing the alarm, they were scrambling to grab their belongings and leave the building

Used to describe a situation where things are confusing because they have been arranged incorrectly, often causing mistakes or misunderstandings.

• There was a mix-up with the flight tickets, so they had to reschedule their trip

Refers to a mixed and untidy collection of things. Often implies a somewhat chaotic mess but not necessarily negative.

• She found her keys in the jumble of items at the bottom of her purse

Generally used to describe the act of mixing up a set of items, like cards, usually to randomize them. Can be used figuratively to describe any minor rearrangement.

• He shuffled the deck of cards before dealing out the hands

Typically used in more formal contexts to describe a deliberate act of making something messy or out of order.

• The wind disarranged the carefully placed papers on the desk

Used when referring to a hasty and disorderly movement, often involving quickly moving up or down a surface. It can imply a sense of urgency or disorganization.

• She was scrambling up the rocky slope to catch her hat that had blown away
• The students were scrambling to finish their exams before time ran out

A general term for ascending or going up, typically used for straightforward activities that don't necessarily involve intense difficulty. It can also be used metaphorically.

• She enjoys climbing mountains every summer
• He climbed the corporate ladder quickly with his hard work

Used when describing climbing with difficulty, often using both hands and feet, usually in situations where the surface is steep or awkward.

• He clambered up the steep hillside, pulling himself up with the tree roots
• The children clambered over the playground equipment

To move quickly with short steps, often implying a sense of hurriedness or escaping. Usually used for smaller creatures or a person moving in a similar manner.

• The mouse scuttled across the kitchen floor
• She scuttled away as soon as she heard someone coming

Used when describing the act of climbing something that is especially tall or challenging, often in a more formal or technical context.

• The mountaineers planned to scale the tallest peak in the range
• Engineers scaled the tower to inspect for damages