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

In front of Hayes and a sellout crowd of 16,932 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, Cushing’s Summit FC fell victim to a rampant comeback against the NWSL leader. —Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026

Saturday’s shooting has also fueled rampant online speculation from social media skeptics, who have questioned the authenticity of the incident. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026

Those issues include housing shortages, rampant homelessness, the nation’s highest levels of unemployment and poverty, uncertain water supplies, soaring utility costs, shamefully low academic achievement in public schools and a state budget in chronic deficit. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026

Warning signs Advocates, a county watchdog and even a judge had warned for months before Diaz’s death that rampant drug use inside the county’s juvenile facilities would lead to disaster if the county did not make changes. —Jason Henry, Daily News, 24 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