wildebeest

[ wil-duh-beest, vil- ]

/ ˈwɪl dəˌbist, ˈvɪl- /

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noun, plural wil·de·beests, (especially collectively) wil·de·beest.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of wildebeest

1830–40; <Afrikaans wildebees<Dutch wildebeest, equivalent to wildwild + beestbeast

Words nearby wildebeest

wild cherry, wild date, wild dog, Wilde, Wildean, wildebeest, Wilde, Oscar, wilder, wilderness, wilderness area, Wilderness Road

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wildebeest in a sentence

Think of thousands of wildebeests crossing a river at once so that crocodiles can only get a few.
How governments seize millions in stolen cryptocurrency|Patrick Howell O'Neill|July 26, 2022|MIT Technology Review
Horses and wildebeests, for instance, also seem to run at their most efficient speed.
Joggers run at an energy-efficient pace, new data show|Chris Gorski|June 22, 2022|Science News For Students
Those rains provide the wildebeests with water to drink and grass to eat.
Scientists Say: Migration|Maria Temming|April 18, 2022|Science News For Students
Kenya is turning to a global youth audience to showcase the eighth natural wonder of the world—the great wildebeest migration—as Africa goes all out to ramp up international tourism numbers.
The eighth natural wonder of the world is getting a partnership with TikTok|Conrad Onyango|August 30, 2021|Quartz

Huge herds of wildebeests, over one million strong, still roam the savanna.
Only 3 percent of Earth’s land is unchanged by people|Jonathan Lambert|May 28, 2021|Science News For Students
A column of wildebeest cantered rigidly in the other direction—all spindly legs, candyfloss white beards, and sloping backs.
Walking With Wildebeests: Exploring the Serengeti on Foot|Joanna Eede|July 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For the last half-hour I was too busy watching the manœuvres of the wildebeest bull, to take my gaze off him for a moment.
Popular Adventure Tales|Mayne Reid
“Jaging de wildebeest” (hunting the gnoo) is a favourite pastime of the young boers.
Popular Adventure Tales|Mayne Reid
Some hunters brought in three wildebeest and an antelope this morning and the whole tribe's feasting up.
The Blind Lion of the Congo|Elliott Whitney
They were moving stealthily, as though undecided whether to sample the dead wildebeest.
The Forest of Mystery|James H. Foster
It is known among the hunters and colonists as “blauw wildebeest” (blue wild-ox).
The Bush Boys|Captain Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for wildebeest

wildebeest

/ (ˈwɪldɪˌbiːst, ˈvɪl-) /

noun plural -beests or -beest

another name for gnu

Word Origin for wildebeest

C19: from Afrikaans, literally: wild beast

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012