éparpiller

Senses

1. 1.

   to scatter, to spread out

   to disperse or distribute in various directions

2. 2.

   to squander, to disperse (effort, energy, resources)

   to waste or distribute carelessly rather than concentrate

Examples

• "Le vent a éparpillé les feuilles partout dans le jardin."

  The wind scattered the leaves all over the garden.

• "Tu éparpilles ton énergie sur trop de projets à la fois."

  You're spreading yourself too thin across too many projects at once.

• "Les manifestants se sont éparpillés dans les rues adjacentes."

  The protesters scattered into the adjacent streets.

Usage

A regular -er verb; often used with reflexive form (s'éparpiller) to mean "to scatter" or "to get distracted." Common in both literal (physical dispersion) and figurative (mental/emotional) contexts. Slightly more formal or literary than simpler alternatives like "disperser."