scamper

C2+ Topic:Verbs of Movement

US /ˈskæmpər/ UK /ˈskæmpə/ See IPA manual

verb noun

Meanings

1

verb
to run with quick, light, hurried steps

The squirrels scampered up the oak at the slightest noise.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to run with quick, light,... scurry scuttle dart dash scoot scramble race

Opposites

amble saunter trudge

Word family

Related forms scamp

Etymology

Probably a frequentative of the verb scamp ('to run off'), from Old North French escamper ('to flee, decamp'), from Latin ex- + campus ('field').

excampare Latin campus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Verbs of Movement Word Formation & Derivatives

# scamper

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈskæmpər
**IPA (UK):** ˈskæmpə

## Meanings
1. to run with quick, light, hurried steps

## Examples
- The squirrels scampered up the oak at the slightest noise.

## Synonyms
- scurry
- scuttle
- dart
- dash
- scoot
- scramble
- race

## Antonyms
- amble
- saunter
- trudge

## Related Forms
- scamp

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: excampare
- Root: campus

## Etymology
Probably a frequentative of the verb scamp ('to run off'), from Old North French escamper ('to flee, decamp'), from Latin ex- + campus ('field').

## AI Etymology
Scamper probably a frequentative of the verb scamp ('to run off'), from Old North French escamper ('to flee, decamp'), from Latin ex- + campus ('field'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a verb and noun, it means "to run with quick, light, hurried steps", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin excampare and Latin campus. Related words include scamp.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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scamper

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