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 of rampant

• runaway
• uncontrolled
• raw

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

Geopolitical conflicts—most notably wars in Iran and Ukraine—are rampant, pushing up shipping costs, disrupting supply chains, and complicating the movement of materials into Europe. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026

Right now, with the rampant homelessness, the public safety issue is intertwined with the homelessness issue. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026

Skip bullies like Canadian goldenrod that have rampant roots and seeds that self-sow everywhere. —Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 3 May 2026

But debating such topics is the lifeblood of the draft, which manufactures would-be experts for the kind of second-guessing that helps fuel rampant and often inaccurate speculation. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

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