scram

UK: /ˈskræm/ US: /skræm/ ,(skram)

Inflections of 'scram' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

scrams

v 3rd person singular

scramming

v pres p

scrammed

v past

scrammed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

scram¹ /skræm/   v. [no object] , scrammed, scram•ming. [Informal.]

1. to go away;
   get out:
   They had to scram before the cops came.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

scram¹  (skram), v.i., scrammed, scram•ming. [Informal.]

1. to go away;
   get out (usually used as a command):
   I said I was busy, so scram.

• probably shortened form of scramble (but compare German schramm, imperatire. singular of schrammen to depart) 1925–30

scram²  (skram), [Informal.]
n. 

1. Energy, Physics the rapid shutdown of a nuclear reactor in an emergency.

v.t. 

2. Physics to shut down (a nuclear reactor) rapidly in an emergency.

• perh. identical with scram¹, though sense development is unclear 1945–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scram / skræm/ verb (scrams, scramming, scrammed)

1. (intr; often imperative) to go away hastily; get out

Etymology: 20th Century: shortened from scramble

scram / skræm/ noun

1. an emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor

verb

1. (of a nuclear reactor) to shut down or be shut down in an emergency

Etymology: 20th Century: perhaps from scram¹