stampede

American  

[stam-peed] / stæmˈpid /

noun

1. a sudden, frenzied rush or headlong flight of a herd of frightened animals, especially cattle or horses.

2. any headlong general flight or rush.

3. Western U.S., Canada. a celebration, usually held annually, combining a rodeo, contests, exhibitions, dancing, etc.

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verb (used without object)

stampeded, stampeding

1. to scatter or flee in a stampede.

   People stampeded from the burning theater.

2. to make a general rush.

   On hearing of the sale, they stampeded to the store.

verb (used with object)

stampeded, stampeding

1. to cause to stampede.

2. to rush or overrun (a place).

   Customers stampeded the stores.

stampede British  

/ stæmˈpiːd /

noun

1. an impulsive headlong rush of startled cattle or horses

2. headlong rush of a crowd

   a stampede of shoppers

3. any sudden large-scale movement or other action, such as a rush of people to support a candidate

4. a rodeo event featuring fairground and social elements

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verb

1. to run away or cause to run away in a stampede

Other Word Forms

• stampeder noun
• unstampeded adjective

Etymology

Origin of stampede

An Americanism first recorded in 1815–25; from Spanish estampida, equivalent to estamp(ar) “to stamp” + -ida noun suffix

Example Sentences

Simply put, you don’t hear many stories about American teenagers stampeding their peers for a chance at getting a peek at their stars they’re crushing on these days.

From Salon

And when those collective moods change overnight, there’s a stampede for the exits.

From The Wall Street Journal

Will Bitcoin’s losses start a stampede for the exits in these funds?

From Barron's

He tried to keep his eyes open, but the sting of the salt and the speed meant that he saw only the other nereids around him, charging like stampeding buffalo.

From Literature

He was down in the dirt, and those boys came stampeding toward him.

From Literature

Related Words

• panic