scramble around

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitiveinformal

   To move quickly and awkwardly, often using hands and feet, in different directions.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by a place phrase: scramble around the room.

   Patterns

   • scramble around something
   • scramble around for something

   The children scrambled around the playground, chasing each other.

   I scrambled around the kitchen looking for my keys.

2. 2verbintransitiveinformal

   To compete with others in a hurried, disorganized way to get something.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by 'for': scramble around for tickets.

   Patterns

   • scramble around for something

   Fans scrambled around for tickets to the final concert.

   Investors scrambled around for safe places to put their money.

Word forms

Common combinations

scramble around for something

We scrambled around for a taxi in the rain.

scramble around on the floor

The baby scrambled around on the floor after the toy.

scramble around in the dark

He scrambled around in the dark, trying to find the light switch.

Synonyms and how they differ

clamber

More specific: it means to climb using both hands and feet, often over something large.

scurry

Suggests fast, light movement with small steps, often of small animals or busy people.

Word family

scramble verb

To move quickly and awkwardly, or to mix up.

scramble noun

A hurried, disorganized struggle or competition.

Commonly confused: scramble around or ramble?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “scramble around”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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