wild

[ wahyld ]
See synonyms for: wildwilderwildestwilds on Thesaurus.com

adjective,wild·er, wild·est.
  1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated: a wild animal;wild geese.

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

  1. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste: wild country.

  2. uncivilized or barbarous: wild tribes.

  3. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious: wild strife;wild storms.

  4. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance: wild cries;a wild look.

  5. frantic or distracted; crazy: to drive someone wild.

  6. violently or uncontrollably affected: wild with rage;wild with pain.

  7. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless: a gang of wild boys.

  8. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled: wild enthusiasm.

  9. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence: He repented his wild youth.

  10. unrestrained by reason or prudence: wild schemes.

  11. amazing or incredible: Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

  12. disorderly or disheveled: wild hair.

  13. wide of the mark: He scored on a wild throw.

  14. Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic: wild to get started;wild about the new styles.

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

  16. 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),wild·ed, wild·ing.
  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.

Idioms about wild

  1. blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout.: Compare blowout (def. 4).

  2. in the wild,

    • in a natural state or in the wilderness.

    • in the real world; in real life:language learning in the classroom and in the wild.

  1. run wild,

    • to grow unchecked: The rambler roses are running wild.

    • to show lack of restraint or control: Those children are allowed to run wild.

Origin of wild

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis

Other words for wild

Opposites for wild

Other words from wild

  • wildly, adverb
  • wildness, noun
  • half-wild, adjective
  • half-wildly, adverb
  • half-wildness, noun
  • o·ver·wild, adjective
  • o·ver·wild·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·wild·ness, noun
  • sem·i·wild, adjective
  • sem·i·wild·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·wild·ness, noun
  • un·wild, adjective
  • un·wild·ly, adverb
  • un·wild·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use wild in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wild (1 of 2)

wild

/ (waɪld) /


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

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

  1. uninhabited or uncultivated; desolate: a wild stretch of land

  2. living in a savage or uncivilized way: wild tribes

  3. lacking restraint: wild merriment

  4. of great violence or intensity: a wild storm

  5. disorderly or chaotic: wild thoughts; wild talk

  6. dishevelled; untidy: wild hair

  7. in a state of extreme emotional intensity: wild with anger

  8. reckless: wild speculations

  9. not calculated; random: a wild guess

  10. unconventional; fantastic; crazy: wild friends

  11. (postpositive foll by about) informal intensely enthusiastic or excited

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

  13. wild and woolly

    • rough; untamed; barbarous

    • (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

adverb
  1. in a wild manner

  2. run wild

    • to grow without cultivation or care

    • to behave without restraint

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

  2. the wild

    • a free natural state of living

    • the wilderness

Origin of wild

1
Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis

Derived forms of wild

  • wildish, adjective
  • wildly, adverb
  • wildness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Wild (2 of 2)

Wild

/ (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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with wild

wild

In addition to the idioms beginning with wild

  • wild about, be
  • wild card
  • wild goose chase
  • wild horses couldn't drag me
  • wild oats
  • wild pitch

also see:

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.