trample

verb

tram·​ple ˈtram-pəl 

trampled; trampling ˈtram-p(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: tramp

especially : to tread heavily so as to bruise, crush, or injure

2

: to inflict injury or destruction especially contemptuously or ruthlessly

—usually used with on, over, or upon

trampling on the rights of others

transitive verb

: to crush, injure, or destroy by or as if by treading

trampled the flowers

trample noun

trampler

ˈtram-p(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• champ
• stamp
• stomp
• tramp
• tromp

Examples of trample in a Sentence

The workmen trampled on my flower bed.

Her glasses were trampled underfoot by the crowd.

Many people were trampled to death trying to escape the burning building.

They are trampling on our rights.

They are trampling our rights.

Their most cherished traditions have been trampled.

Recent Examples on the Web

Proving Santa is real by celebrating grandma getting trampled by animals? —Jake Ciely, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024

What happens to our beliefs when new inventions trample our traditions? —Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Read more Guinea Black Friday, Cyber Monday Scams: How to Check if Websites Are Legitimate Map Shows States Which Passed Anti-Trans Legislation in 2024 Many were trampled in the chaos, with reports indicating several of the dead were children. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

That tramples their previous high of 152 arrests in 2023, despite being the smallest of 25 field offices nationwide, serving just the state of Maryland. —Rebecca Pryor, Baltimore Sun, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, frequentative of trampen to tramp

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

trample

verb

tram·​ple ˈtram-pəl 

trampled; trampling -p(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to tramp or tread heavily so as to bruise, crush, or injure

cattle trampled on the young wheat

b

: to crush, injure, or destroy by or as if by treading

trampled the flowers

2

: to injure or harm by ruthless or heartless treatment

trampling on the right of others

trampler

-p(ə-)lər 

noun