rampant
Americanadjective
-
violent in action or spirit; raging; furious.
a rampant leopard.
-
growing luxuriantly, as weeds.
-
in full sway; prevailing or unchecked.
a rampant rumor.
- Synonyms:
- unrestrained, widespread, rife
-
(of an animal) standing on the hind legs; ramping.
-
Heraldry. (of a beast used as a charge) represented in profile facing the dexter side, with the body upraised and resting on the left hind leg, the tail and other legs elevated, the right foreleg highest, and the head in profile unless otherwise specified.
a lion rampant.
-
Architecture. (of an arch or vault) springing at one side from one level of support and resting at the other on a higher level.
adjective
-
unrestrained or violent in behaviour, desire, opinions, etc
-
growing or developing unchecked
-
(postpositive) heraldry (of a beast) standing on the hind legs, the right foreleg raised above the left
-
(of an arch) having one abutment higher than the other
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rampant
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, literally, “creeping, climbing,” present participle of ramper “to creep, crawl, climb”; see ramp 1
Explanation
Rampant means wild or out of control. Unruly children might run rampant at the supermarket, knocking cereal boxes off shelves and thoroughly annoying the customers. If you're running rampant, you're on a rampage. Both come from the French word ramper meaning "to climb, creep" like an animal on hind legs, paws in climbing-mode, or like wild plants such as the kudzu that ran rampant over an old barn until the entire thing was covered. There can also be rampant wildfires that destroy houses in the Southwest, or robots that run rampant in the lab after the janitor accidentally sets them free.
Vocabulary lists containing rampant
The Diary of a Young Girl
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!
Beowulf
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!
This Week in Words: September 4 - 8, 2017
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.
Copper theft became so rampant that in 2024 the Los Angeles Police Department launched a specialized unit called the Heavy Metal Task Force to track down thieves.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
Tessellations set out to offer an alternative to the cutthroat competition rampant in many schools.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
The Aids crisis is devastatingly rampant and Scotland is having its own, distinct grapple with it.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
If the goal was to quiet the rampant media and online discussion about his behavior, the move backfired.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
No tree grew there, only rough grass and many tall plants: stalky and faded hemlocks and wood-parsley, fire-weed seeding into fluffy ashes, and rampant nettles and thistles.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
