wild

[wahyld]

adjective

wilder, wildest 

1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated.

   a wild animal;

   wild geese.

   Synonyms: ferocious, unbroken
   Antonyms: tame

2. growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey.

   wild cherries.

3. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste.

   wild country.

4. uncivilized or barbarous.

   wild tribes.

   Synonyms: savage, barbarian

5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious.

   wild strife;

   wild storms.

   Synonyms: turbulent, frenzied, stormy, tempestuous

6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance.

   wild cries;

   a wild look.

   Synonyms: boisterous

7. frantic or distracted; crazy.

   to drive someone wild.

   Synonyms: insane

8. violently or uncontrollably affected.

   wild with rage;

   wild with pain.

9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless.

   a gang of wild boys.

   Synonyms: wayward, unrestrained, riotous, self-willed

10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled.

    wild enthusiasm.

    Synonyms: uncontrollable

11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence.

    He repented his wild youth.

12. unrestrained by reason or prudence.

    wild schemes.

    Synonyms: rash, reckless, impracticable, extravagant

13. amazing or incredible.

    Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

    Synonyms: fanciful, strange, bizarre, grotesque

14. disorderly or disheveled.

    wild hair.

    Synonyms: unkempt

15. wide of the mark.

    He scored on a wild throw.

16. Informal.,  intensely eager or enthusiastic.

    wild to get started;

    wild about the new styles.

17. Cards.,  (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.

18. Metallurgy.,  (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.

adverb

1. in a wild manner; wildly.

noun

1. Often wilds an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert.

   a cabin in the wild;

   a safari to the wilds of Africa.

verb (used with object)

wilded, wilding 

1. to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way.

   The man was wilded and left for dead.

wild

¹

/ waɪld /

adjective

1. (of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame

2. (of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated

3. uninhabited or uncultivated; desolate

   a wild stretch of land

4. living in a savage or uncivilized way

   wild tribes

5. lacking restraint

   wild merriment

6. of great violence or intensity

   a wild storm

7. disorderly or chaotic

   wild thoughts

   wild talk

8. dishevelled; untidy

   wild hair

9. in a state of extreme emotional intensity

   wild with anger

10. reckless

    wild speculations

11. not calculated; random

    a wild guess

12. unconventional; fantastic; crazy

    wild friends

13. informal,  intensely enthusiastic or excited

14. (of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleases

    jacks are wild

15. 1. rough; untamed; barbarous

    2. (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

adverb

1. in a wild manner

2. 1. to grow without cultivation or care

   2. to behave without restraint

noun

1. (often plural) a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region

2. 1. a free natural state of living

   2. the wilderness

Wild

²

/ waɪld /

noun

1. Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself

Other Word Forms

• wildly adverb
• wildness noun
• half-wild adjective
• half-wildly adverb
• half-wildness noun
• overwild adjective
• overwildly adverb
• overwildness noun
• semiwild adjective
• semiwildly adverb
• semiwildness noun
• unwild adjective
• unwildly adverb
• unwildness noun
• wildish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild¹

Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. run wild,

   1. to grow unchecked.

      The rambler roses are running wild.

   2. to show lack of restraint or control.

      Those children are allowed to run wild.

2. in the wild,

   1. in a natural state or in the wilderness.

   2. in the real world; in real life.

      language learning in the classroom and in the wild.

3. blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout.

More idioms and phrases containing wild

• go hog wild
• go wilding
• run amok (wild)
• sow one's wild oats

Example Sentences

The team will have to take the long route through October — starting with a best-of-three wild card round next week, rather than a bye to the division series.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes they get wild and they start shooting T-shirts with the T-shirt gun into the stadium seats.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was honestly the most wild thing ever," she said.

From BBC

“It’s wild how far you can grow and how far you can come when you just change one thing.”

From Los Angeles Times

And Justice Amy Coney Barrett has emerged as something of a wild card, aligning with the liberal wing in a handful of cases.

From Salon

Related Words

• exciting 
• far-out 
• groovy 
• interesting 
• jazzy 
• remarkable