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

Attendees stampeded, pushing and shoving and yelling as if there were one cake, not 1,000.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s according to Tuttle Capital Management’s chief executive officer and chief investment officer, Matthew Tuttle, who predicts the “scarcity stampede” that caused solar, gas and coal companies to surge this year will dissipate.

From MarketWatch

Smith had taken a bang to the head a few minutes before, bravely throwing himself into the path of a stampeding Nathan Jibulu.

From BBC

“Zootopia 2” has already stampeded past $1 billion to surpass its predecessor, and the awards nominations have just begun slithering in.

From Los Angeles Times

For more than a month, the Bay Area has been subjected to a seemingly ceaseless stampede of earthquakes — the latest in a series of seismic swarms that have rattled windows and raised fears across California.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• panic