rampant

adjective

ram·​pant ˈram-pənt How to pronounce rampant (audio)
 also  -ˌpant
1
a
: rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended
b
: standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile
used of a heraldic animal
2
a
: marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint
rampant rumors
b
: profusely widespread
rampant weeds
rampantly adverb

Illustration of rampant

Illustration of rampant
  • a lion rampant

Examples of rampant in a Sentence

a weed that's rampant in this area the mayor promised to put a stop to the rampant crime that plagued the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Child labor and street crime were rampant, with some youngsters turning to theft for sustenance. Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025 While speculation has been rampant that his wife Casey will attempt to keep the governor's mansion in the family, no official announcement has been made concerning her potential candidacy. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 Burnout is rampant, employee trust is fragile, and businesses that fail to cultivate genuine workplace culture are losing talent fast. Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 Some groups want federal protection for Great Lakes gray wolves dropped as role of Endangered Species Act examined Gray wolves represent a success story for conservationists after the species almost went extinct in the lower 48 states by the mid-20th century due to rampant hunting and trapping. Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rampant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rampaunt, rampand, borrowed from Anglo-French rampant "crawling, rampant (in heraldry)," from present participle of ramper "to climb, rear up on the hind legs, creep" — more at ramp entry 4

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rampant was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rampant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rampant. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

rampant

adjective
ram·​pant ˈram-pənt How to pronounce rampant (audio)
 also  -ˌpant
1
: standing on the hind legs like a horse rearing
2
: not checked in growth or spread
rumor ran rampant
rampantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on rampant

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