stampede
Americannoun
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a sudden, frenzied rush or headlong flight of a herd of frightened animals, especially cattle or horses.
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any headlong general flight or rush.
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Western U.S., Canada. a celebration, usually held annually, combining a rodeo, contests, exhibitions, dancing, etc.
verb (used without object)
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to scatter or flee in a stampede.
People stampeded from the burning theater.
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to make a general rush.
On hearing of the sale, they stampeded to the store.
verb (used with object)
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to cause to stampede.
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to rush or overrun (a place).
Customers stampeded the stores.
noun
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an impulsive headlong rush of startled cattle or horses
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headlong rush of a crowd
a stampede of shoppers
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any sudden large-scale movement or other action, such as a rush of people to support a candidate
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a rodeo event featuring fairground and social elements
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stampedesimple
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stampedessimple
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have stampededperfect
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has stampededperfect
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am stampedingprogressive
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are stampedingprogressive
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is stampedingprogressive
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have been stampedingperfect progressive
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has been stampedingperfect progressive
Past
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stampededsimple
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had stampededperfect
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was stampedingprogressive
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were stampedingprogressive
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had been stampedingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stampede
An Americanism first recorded in 1815–25; from Spanish estampida, equivalent to estamp(ar) “to stamp” + -ida noun suffix
Explanation
Do you see hundreds of cattle thundering toward you? Then stop reading and get out of there! A stampede is coming. Stampede is a word for animal behavior that fits people sometimes too. During the holidays, desperate parents might stampede the mall, especially the toy stores. Fans of a popular movie might stampede to get tickets. A stampede of teen girls can usually be found chasing the latest boy bands. Stampede can be a noun or a verb, but either way, look out!
Vocabulary lists containing stampede
Bud, Not Buddy
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Home of the Brave
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Stargirl
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.
Then, right behind them, a stampede of men in UFC T-shirts: the Running of the Bros.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026
The last major dispute erupted after one of the pilgrimage's biggest tragedies, in 2015, when 464 Iranians were among 2,300 pilgrims killed in a stampede, prompting recriminations between Riyadh and Tehran.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
For more than a month, the Bay Area has been subjected to a seemingly ceaseless stampede of earthquakes, rattling windows and raising fears across California.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
The stampede was said to have started near the entrance to the site and was exacerbated by the onset of heavy rain.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
A whistle roused us at 4:00 when, without even shaking the straw from clothes and hair, the stampede began for the ration of bread and coffee in the center room.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
