stampede

1 of 2

noun

stam·​pede (ˌ)stam-ˈpēd 

1

: a wild headlong rush or flight of frightened animals

2

: a mass movement of people at a common impulse

3

: an extended festival combining a rodeo with exhibitions, contests, and social events

stampede

2 of 2

verb

stampeded; stampeding

transitive verb

1

: to cause to run away in headlong panic

2

: to cause (a group or mass of people) to act on sudden or rash impulse

intransitive verb

1

: to flee headlong in panic

2

: to act on mass impulse

stampeder noun

Examples of stampede in a Sentence

Noun

a stampede to the exits

a stampede to buy the stock

a stampede of new applicants

Verb

People stampeded to the exits.

The gunshot stampeded the cattle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The City College Stampede Payouts On Dec. 28, 1991, a tragedy at City College led to nine hip-hop and basketball fans being killed after they were crushed in a stampede. —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2025

But two threes apiece from Herro and Jovic and a three from Adebayo suppressed that stampede and prevented further damage. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2025

Verb

But even after the Bills stampeded the Broncos in the second half of a 31-7 loss at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, the 35,000-foot view still tells us the defense is not Denver’s problem. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2025

Here’s what users can do to prepare Entertainment Professional bull riders will ‘Unleash the Beast’ this weekend in Rosemont PBR’s Unleash the Beast stampedes into the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Jan. 10-11, starting at 7:45 p.m. Friday. —Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

American Spanish estampida, from Spanish, crash, from estampar to stamp, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stampfōn to stamp

First Known Use

Noun

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

stampede

1 of 2 noun

stam·​pede stam-ˈpēd 

1

: a wild rush or flight of frightened animals

2

: a sudden movement of a crowd of people

stampede

2 of 2 verb

stampeded; stampeding

1

: to run away or cause (as cattle) to run away in panic

2

: to act together or cause to act together suddenly and without thought

Etymology

Noun

from a word in the Spanish of Mexico and the American Southwest, estampida "stampede," from Spanish estampida "a crash, loud noise," from estamper "to pound, stamp"