stampede

[stam-peed]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• stampeder noun
• unstampeded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stampede¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stampede¹

C19: from American Spanish estampida , from Spanish: a din, from estampar to stamp, of Germanic origin; see _stamp

Example Sentences

At least 10 students were injured in a stampede as they tried to leave Dhaka University on Friday.

Read more on BBC

Create a stampede, kick Benefo in the chest, find my sword, anything!

Read more on Literature

If this had been an ordinary crowd, one could easily imagine the terrified stampede that might have ensued.

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The passengers stampeded out of the train like a herd of cows that were late for a very important milking appointment.

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That suggests the easy money has already been made and raises the troubling prospect that any small reversal could turn into something like a stampede—if investors all rush to exit at once.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• panic