rampant

adjective ram·pant \ ˈram-pənt also -ˌpant \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of rampant

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

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rampantly

adverb

See rampant defined for English-language learners

See rampant defined for kids

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 of rampant from the Web

The country’s economic crisis has led to shortages of food and medicine, and rampant crime has meant the streets of the capital are empty on most evenings because of the fear of kidnapping.

— New York Times, "At Least 17 Dead in Stampede at Graduation Party in Venezuela," 16 June 2018
Tipping the scales ever so slightly toward the victims of this rampant crime seems like a good idea to me.

— heather knight, SFChronicle.com, "Car break-in crackdown bill made perfect sense. California lawmakers killed it," 15 June 2018
Thus, despite Venezuela being in crisis mode with its economy in ruins and suffering from rampant crime, Maduro is primed to serve another six-year term as president starting next year and continuing through 2025.

— mery mogollon, latimes.com, "Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reelected amid boycott by opposition groups," 21 May 2018
Today’s Video Vanishing Venezuela Like millions of Venezuelans, Maria Planchart is fighting for survival amid hyperinflation, rampant crime and President Nicolás Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian rule.

— gerard baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 18 May 2018
Being afraid of general violence or rampant crime is not enough to win a case.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How likely are Central Americans from the caravan to win their asylum cases?," 6 May 2018
And what would the Legislature do about Anchorage and Mat-Su residents' complaints about rampant crime? Sunday is the session's 90th day.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska’s legislative session is almost over and every big problem remains unsolved. Here’s what happens next.," 12 Apr. 2018
Hyperinflation, food shortages, rampant crime and political turmoil are fueling a mass exodus and reports of crushing hunger.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Venezuela’s zoo animals are starving, and a one-time actor wants to airlift them out | Miami Herald," 13 Mar. 2018
As authoritarianism continues to tighten its grip on Venezuela, large numbers of its citizens are fleeing, citing the economic crisis and rampant crime as reasons for departure.

— joe parkin daniels, The Seattle Times, "In Colombia border town, desperate Venezuelans sell hair to survive," 17 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rampant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of rampant

Origin and Etymology of rampant

Middle English, from Anglo-French, present participle of ramper

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

rampant Synonyms

RAMPANT Defined for English Language Learners

rampant

adjective

Definition of rampant for English Language Learners

—used to describe something that is very common or that is spreading very quickly and in a way that is difficult to control
: growing quickly and in a way that is difficult to control