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

The plant is easily identified by its rampant growth in the spring and its spiny globular fruit. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026

Speculation has been rampant, with everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner to Louis Partridge rumored to be in line to receive a certain someone’s license to kill. —Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

Some 130 police leaders from across the globe converged on Kraków, Poland this week for a first-of-its-kind initiative amid rampant antisemitism. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Andrii Yalanskyi/Getty Images After weeks of rampant market turbulence, mortgage rates are finally showing signs of easing. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Apr. 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