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

But while official updates were rare, tabloid speculation and internet sleuthing were rampant. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026

That victory, however, showed that most Hungarians – fed up with a stagnant economy and rampant corruption – no longer believed what state media told them, Polyák added. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026

Its effective shuttering for the duration of the conflict has stoked a global energy crisis and stoked fears of a worldwide slowdown and rampant inflation. —Kate Sullivan, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026

Officials are cutting flights at the country's busiest airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), this summer to prevent a repeat of last year's rampant delays and cancellations. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 16 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