stampede
Americannoun
-
a sudden, frenzied rush or headlong flight of a herd of frightened animals, especially cattle or horses.
-
any headlong general flight or rush.
-
Western U.S., Canada. a celebration, usually held annually, combining a rodeo, contests, exhibitions, dancing, etc.
verb (used without object)
-
to scatter or flee in a stampede.
People stampeded from the burning theater.
-
to make a general rush.
On hearing of the sale, they stampeded to the store.
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to stampede.
-
to rush or overrun (a place).
Customers stampeded the stores.
noun
-
an impulsive headlong rush of startled cattle or horses
-
headlong rush of a crowd
a stampede of shoppers
-
any sudden large-scale movement or other action, such as a rush of people to support a candidate
-
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.
He attributed those deaths to “stampedes,” which gives the regime a pass.
He downplayed responsibility for deaths so far by attributing some to "stampedes", but stressed that Iranian authorities had been "told very strongly" where the red lines lay.
From BBC
The stampede to move to AI to offset tariff costs has put significant upward pressure on the costs for equipment, software and construction of hyperscale data centers.
From MarketWatch
Attendees stampeded, pushing and shoving and yelling as if there were one cake, not 1,000.
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
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.
