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
- 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The wave of redemptions at private-credit funds is starting to resemble a stampede.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
In 1974, a stampede at a David Cassidy concert in London was so traumatic that one medic said the scale of the injuries reminded him of the Blitz.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
Some investors are seizing on the current stampede out of private credit as a chance to buy into funds at significant discounts to reported net assets.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026
But as the Argentine rappers, decked out in Versace, plowed through their catchiest hits like “Dumbai” and “Sheesh,” a dancing stampede made its way over.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025
A stampede of little footsteps clattered across the tile floor.
From "I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919" by Lauren Tarshis
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.
