rampage
Americannoun
-
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)
verb
noun
-
angry or destructive behaviour
-
behaving violently or destructively
Other Word Forms
- rampageous adjective
- rampageously adverb
- rampageousness noun
- rampager noun
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
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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.
You would have an executive that was just on a rampage, with no one willing to stand up.
From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026
Dickson survived the November rampage, concealing himself under a pile of baskets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 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
The Springboks completed an autumn clean sweep by going on the rampage in Cardiff to score 11 tries in a 73-0 win.
From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025
Up ahead, Riker looked up from his rampage, his face red and scrunched with fury.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
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.
