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 plants need to be divided at least every 3 years to control rampant growth. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Miami-Dade County has come a long way from its place in popular culture as an area where murders are rampant. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

And all of this is without mentioning the impact huge spending on the top tier has further down the English pyramid, where loss-making is rampant. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

If authorities confirm a speed contest was to blame, the two girls would be the latest to fall victim to Southern California’s rampant and deadly street racing culture, which has claimed scores of lives in the last 20 years. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 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