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
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
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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.
If people were told snacks like that were handed out free, there would be a stampede on the doors.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Celebrities no longer guarantee a stampede at the virtual box office, but one encouraging development is the range of big-named actors delivering powerhouse performances in plays that were anything but vanity showcases.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
According to these reports, there’s not only a stampede back to the churches by the young, but it’s being led by a surprising cohort: Gen Z men.
From Salon • 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
There was a stampede of boots up the stairs.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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.
