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

• 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

Homelessness is still rampant — and the idea of homeownership feels like a cruel joke to the many millions of households in the Golden State with income far higher than the national median of $75,000. —U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025

With both systems under one leader, speculation is rampant that Broward’s two health districts will merge. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025

Speculation on casting for the project has been rampant, with many fans taking to social media to name Euphoria‘s Hunter Schafer as their pick for the part of Zelda. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2025

At this criminal trial there was testimony of rampant drug use of all kinds of drugs involved, so on balance the criminal case helped us a great deal. —Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 14 July 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