rampage
Americannoun
-
rampages
plural
-
violent or excited behavior that is reckless, uncontrolled, or destructive.
-
a state of violent anger or agitation.
The smallest mistake sends him into a rampage. The river has gone on a rampage and flooded the countryside.
verb (used without object)
-
rampages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rampaged,
past participle, past
-
rampaging
present participle
verb
noun
-
angry or destructive behaviour
-
behaving violently or destructively
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rampagesimple
-
rampagessimple
-
have rampagedperfect
-
has rampagedperfect
-
am rampagingprogressive
-
are rampagingprogressive
-
is rampagingprogressive
-
have been rampagingperfect progressive
-
has been rampagingperfect progressive
Past
-
rampagedsimple
-
had rampagedperfect
-
was rampagingprogressive
-
were rampagingprogressive
-
had been rampagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rampage
Explanation
A rampage is when a group of people is destructive and out of control, like an angry, violent riot following an unpopular political decision. A single individual can go on a rampage, wreaking havoc and destruction, but the word most often describes the actions of an angry mob. You can also use rampage as a verb, as when furious football fans rampage through a town overturning cars and setting things on fire. The word was originally Scottish, from the Middle English ramp, "rave or rush wildly about."
Vocabulary lists containing rampage
This Week in Words: August 25 - 31, 2018
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Sugar Changed the World
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Do Video Games Cause Violence?
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Bridges is another key to New York’s playoff rampage, a stopper on defense who’s suddenly reborn offensively.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
You would have an executive that was just on a rampage, with no one willing to stand up.
From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2026
Just as the trial for Samuel Patrick Groft was about to kick off, the 45-year-old instead pleaded no contest Wednesday to a slew of vandalism charges stemming from the seven-day slashing rampage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026
Bayern continued the rampage early in the second half, with Olise scoring and forcing Wolfsburg's Moritz Jenz into conceding another own goal inside the space of three minutes.
From Barron's ● Jan. 11, 2026
But unfortunately Demi’s most unconquerable prejudice was against going to bed, and that night he decided to go on a rampage.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Eggs: So, that whole thing about the U.S. trying to import more eggs as bird flu rampages across American livestock centers?
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2025
Yamazaki refers to Toho Studios’ original method of filming Godzilla rampages in 1954.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2024
Yet the theme persists, from the singular destructiveness of the kaiju to the way that people onscreen watch their rampages through televisions and the Internet, observers of the existential changes upending the world.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 3, 2023
Asked if Netanyahu agreed with the security chiefs' designation of the rampages as "terrorism", his office referred Reuters to that statement and declined further comment.
From Reuters ● Jun. 25, 2023
One afternoon, I was on one of these getaway rampages, racing down the small side roads that spiderweb our property.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Since then, Nigeria has allowed hundreds of American troops to be posted to the country to train Nigerian forces and coordinate targeting of militant groups that have rampaged through the Lake Chad Basin for years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
Murley lost his bearings under a high ball and Bundee Aki rampaged over from the resulting pressure to level things.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2025
They are in this space because of the devastating wildfires that rampaged across the Los Angeles area that caused the postponement of a Clippers’ game and forced the NBA to reschedule games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025
By Sunday, Palworld was one of the most popular games on the planet as players rampaged through a cruel world of chickens and squirrels engaged in shootouts.
From New York Times ● Jan. 23, 2024
Cholera rampaged through big cities and small towns.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The last time the videogame about rampaging undead was adapted, in 2021, the box office haul was paltry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
After Wales' scrum buckled early on, an ineffective attacking play involving Thomas resulted in Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx achieving a turnover penalty with rampaging lock Cobus Wiese almost crossing the Welsh line before knocking on.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Instead of a budget rampaging out of control, it’s the beasts themselves, particularly Irene, a stunning creation that resembles a glop of marmalade with eyeballs bubbling up to the surface.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
The animals were seen entering homes, roaming near schools and rampaging through supermarkets and hot spring resorts on an almost daily basis.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
She pointed at the elaborate illustration of a man holding a golden harp, facing down a rampaging giant.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
