1
a
: living in a state of nature and not ordinarily tame or domesticated
wild ducks
b(1)
: growing or produced without human aid or care
wild honey
(2)
: related to or resembling a corresponding cultivated or domesticated organism
c
: of or relating to wild organisms
the wild state
2
a
: not inhabited or cultivated
wild land
b
: not amenable to human habitation or cultivation
also : desolate
3
a(1)
: not subject to restraint or regulation : uncontrolled
also : unruly
(2)
: emotionally overcome
wild with grief
also : passionately eager or enthusiastic
was wild to own a toy train J. C. Furnas
b
: marked by turbulent agitation : stormy
a wild night
c
: going beyond normal or conventional bounds : fantastic
wild ideas
also : sensational
d
: indicative of strong passion, desire, or emotion
a wild gleam of delight in his eyesIrish Digest
4
5
: characteristic of, appropriate to, or expressive of wilderness, wildlife, or a simple or uncivilized society
6
a
: deviating from the intended or expected course
wild spellingC. W. Cunnington
the throw was wild
also : tending to throw inaccurately
a wild pitcher
b
: having no basis in known or surmised fact
a wild guess
7
of a playing card : able to represent any card designated by the holder
wildish adjective
wildness noun

wild

2 of 3

noun

1
: a sparsely inhabited or uncultivated region or tract : wilderness
2
: a wild, free, or natural state or existence

wild

3 of 3

adverb

: in a wild manner: such as
a
: without regulation or control
plants that grow wild
b
: off an intended or expected course

Examples of wild in a Sentence

Adjective wild places high in the mountains I felt a wild rage. He was wild with anger. The crowd went wild when the band took the stage. Noun They hiked through the wilds of Maine. The plants were collected from the wild. They will return the animal to the wild when it is healthy. Could these animals survive in the wild? I've only seen that animal in a zoo, never in the wild. Adverb These plants grow wild on the roadside. as soon as the doors opened, early-morning bargain hunters ran wild through the store
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The game was wild, with the Bruins taking an early 7-1 lead and the Trojans scoring nine runs in the eighth inning to win 13-8. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024 Sweet, fuss-free, and portable tailgate food ideas that will make the crowd go wild. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
Putting this much attention into a pair of earbuds is a little wild. Andrew Williams, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Wild, wild, West of maps In case the rules governing how district maps can be drawn weren’t confusing enough, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown a new wrench in the gears. Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Aug. 2024
Adverb
All of it wild-caught. Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 14 Aug. 2020 Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wild 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wild.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English wilde, from Old English; akin to Old High German wildi wild, Welsh gwyllt

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wild was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wild

Cite this Entry

“Wild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wild. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wild

1 of 3 adjective
1
a
: living in a state of nature and not under human control and care
wild animals
b
: growing or produced without human aid and care
wild honey
c
: of or relating to wild organisms
the wild state
2
: not inhabited or cultivated
wild land
3
a
: not being under control
wild rage
a wild young stallion
b
: marked by disturbance and confusion
a wild night
c
: going beyond what is usual : fantastic
wild colors
wild ideas
4
: not civilized : savage
5
: being far off the intended course
a wild pitch
6
: having no basis in fact
a wild guess
7
: able to represent any card designated by the holder
poker with deuces wild
wildly
ˈwī(ə)l-(d)lē
adverb
wildness noun

wild

2 of 3 noun

wild

3 of 3 adverb
1
: in a wild manner : wildly
2
: without rules or control
running wild

More from Merriam-Webster on wild

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