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

Washington’s sanctions and naval blockade have caused rampant inflation. — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

Over the course of more than four decades in the industry, he’s taken on the transition from cassettes into the CD era, rampant piracy in the Napster and file-sharing era, and the streaming revolution with Spotify. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

The promotion is particularly rampant in men’s health and nutrition spaces. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

For months, there has been rampant speculation about a possible reunion between Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs — much of it fueled by posts Hill has made on social media. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 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