wild

American  

[wahyld] / waɪld /

adjective

wilder, wildest

1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated.

   a wild animal;

   wild geese.

   Synonyms:

   ferocious, unbroken

   Antonyms:

   tame

2. growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey.

   wild cherries.

3. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste.

   wild country.

4. uncivilized or barbarous.

   wild tribes.

   Synonyms:

   savage, barbarian

5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious.

   wild strife;

   wild storms.

   Synonyms:

   turbulent, frenzied, stormy, tempestuous

6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance.

   wild cries;

   a wild look.

   Synonyms:

   boisterous

7. frantic or distracted; crazy.

   to drive someone wild.

   Synonyms:

   insane

8. violently or uncontrollably affected.

   wild with rage;

   wild with pain.

9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless.

   a gang of wild boys.

   Synonyms:

   wayward, unrestrained, riotous, self-willed

10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled.

    wild enthusiasm.

    Synonyms:

    uncontrollable

11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence.

    He repented his wild youth.

12. unrestrained by reason or prudence.

    wild schemes.

    Synonyms:

    rash, reckless, impracticable, extravagant

13. amazing or incredible.

    Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

    Synonyms:

    fanciful, strange, bizarre, grotesque

14. disorderly or disheveled.

    wild hair.

    Synonyms:

    unkempt

15. wide of the mark.

    He scored on a wild throw.

16. Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic.

    wild to get started;

    wild about the new styles.

17. Cards. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.

18. Metallurgy. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.

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adverb

1. in a wild manner; wildly.

noun

1. Often wilds an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert.

   a cabin in the wild;

   a safari to the wilds of Africa.

verb (used with object)

wilded, wilding

1. to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way.

   The man was wilded and left for dead.

idioms

1. run wild,

   1. to grow unchecked.

      The rambler roses are running wild.

   2. to show lack of restraint or control.

      Those children are allowed to run wild.

2. in the wild,

   1. in a natural state or in the wilderness.

   2. in the real world; in real life.

      language learning in the classroom and in the wild.

3. blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout.

wild ¹ British  

/ waɪld /

adjective

1. (of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame

2. (of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated

3. uninhabited or uncultivated; desolate

   a wild stretch of land

4. living in a savage or uncivilized way

   wild tribes

5. lacking restraint

   wild merriment

6. of great violence or intensity

   a wild storm

7. disorderly or chaotic

   wild thoughts

   wild talk

8. dishevelled; untidy

   wild hair

9. in a state of extreme emotional intensity

   wild with anger

10. reckless

    wild speculations

11. not calculated; random

    a wild guess

12. unconventional; fantastic; crazy

    wild friends

13. informal intensely enthusiastic or excited

14. (of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleases

    jacks are wild

15. 1. rough; untamed; barbarous

    2. (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

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adverb

1. in a wild manner

2. 1. to grow without cultivation or care

   2. to behave without restraint

noun

1. (often plural) a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region

2. 1. a free natural state of living

   2. the wilderness

Wild ² British  

/ waɪld /

noun

1. Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself

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wild More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing wild

• go hog wild
• go wilding
• run amok (wild)
• sow one's wild oats

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Other Word Forms

• half-wild adjective
• half-wildly adverb
• half-wildness noun
• overwild adjective
• overwildly adverb
• overwildness noun
• semiwild adjective
• semiwildly adverb
• semiwildness noun
• unwild adjective
• unwildly adverb
• unwildness noun
• wildish adjective
• wildly adverb
• wildness noun

Etymology

Origin of wild

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis

Example Sentences

Some fought with only a trident; some fought mounted on horseback; some on chariot; others on foot with helmet and short sword; some with two daggers; still others exclusively fought wild beasts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

There is little of the wild ride Sharon is known for.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

First documented in Guernsey in 1871, the flower used to grow along the island's west coast and Lihou Island, but now only a small wild population remains at Pleinmont.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Because he did not have the opportunity to learn essential survival skills from his mother, Crimson is not suitable for re-release in the wild and will spend the rest of his life in the zoo.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

She looked at me, her eyes so wild.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Related Words

• exciting
• far-out
• groovy
• interesting
• jazzy
• remarkable