rampant

adjective

ram·​pant ˈram-pənt 

 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

• a lion rampant

Synonyms

• abandoned
• intemperate
• raw
• runaway
• unbounded
• unbridled
• unchecked
• uncontrolled
• unhampered
• unhindered
• unrestrained

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

Inconsistent enforcement by untrained or younger employees in convenience stores has led to rampant underage sales in the U.S. —Markus Lindblad, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Harvard University will provide additional protections for Jewish students under a settlement announced on Tuesday that resolves two lawsuits accusing the Ivy League school of becoming a hotbed of rampant antisemitism. —Jonathan Stempel, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025

Beleaguered Everton fans left Goodison Park with a spring in their step on Sunday afternoon, rampant nostalgia dispelling any fears that looking to the past might undermine the future. —Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025

While there has been rampant speculation about the causes of the recent fires, investigators have only publicly discussed the possibility that the Kenneth fire near the L.A.-Ventura County border was intentionally set. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing rampant

• run rampant

Kids Definition

rampant

adjective

ram·​pant ˈram-pənt 

 also  -ˌpant

1

: standing on the hind legs like a horse rearing

2

: not checked in growth or spread

rumor ran rampant

rampantly adverb