ramp

1 of 2

verb (1)

ramped; ramping; ramps

intransitive verb

: to speed up, expand, or increase especially quickly or at a constant rate

—used with up

ramping up to full speed

The backlash is a sign of tensions that could intensify as the governor ramps up for reelection next year.

—Josh Burek

The raisin giant ramps up for Halloween by selling bags of 14 half-ounce raisin boxes.

—Bruce Horovitz

Furthermore, some of these heat processes must be "ramped up." That is, the heat must be gradually raised to the processing temperature …

—George Lawton

transitive verb

: to increase, expand, or decrease especially quickly or at a constant rate

—usually used with up or down

ramp up production

… James Bay and Tori Kelly, two best new artist nominees, traded their songs on acoustic guitars, ramping up the vibrato.

—Jon Pareles

see also ramp-up

ramp

2 of 2

verb (2)

ramped; ramping; ramps

intransitive verb

1

a

: to stand or advance menacingly with forelegs or with arms raised

b

: to move or act furiously

2

: to creep up

—used especially of plants

Examples of ramp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her return comes as the grass-court season ramps up ahead of Wimbledon later this month. —ABC News, 9 June 2026

After the United States rejected (yet again) Vladimir Putin’s proposals for a new European security architecture in December 2021, and after the Ukrainian government ramped up its shelling of separatist forces, Putin responded by recognizing the breakaway republics in the Donbas. —Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 9 June 2026

Enthusiasm about artificial intelligence has ramped up in recent weeks, drawing focus away from cryptocurrencies, analysts say. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

On top of that, there aren't enough of them produced to satisfy carriers, as Boeing and Airbus ramp up output. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

in part verbal derivative of ramp1, implying upward or downward movement on a ramp, in part derivative of ramp "artificial stimulation of a situation, market, etc., for financial or political gain," probably derivative of 19th-century British slang ramp "to rob, swindle," of uncertain origin

Verb (2)

Middle English rampen, raumpen "to creep on the ground (of a snake or dragon), to spring up, rear up on the hind legs (of a lion or other large carnivore)," borrowed from Anglo-French ramper "to climb, rear up on the hind legs, creep" (also continental Old French), perhaps going back to a Germanic base *hramp- used in various expressive words, as Middle Dutch ramp "mishap, disaster," rampe "torticollis in birds," Middle Low German ramp "spasm, epilepsy, distress, disaster," Old English gehrumpen "wrinkled, coiled, contracted," Old High German rimpfan, preterit rampf "to shrivel, shrink"

Note: Though the Germanic origin of ramper is generally accepted (as by Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Trésor de la langue française), the semantic connections are tenuous. Hypothetically akin to this verb is a noun *hrampa- meaning "hook, claw," whence Italian rampa "claw, talon," alongside Spanish, Catalan rampa "cramp, spasm." Suggested Indo-European comparisons (Lithuanian kremblỹs "chantarelle," Greek krámbos "clear, dry [of a sound]") are even more tenuous.

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1980, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ramp

• curb ramp
• off-ramp
• on-ramp
• ramp-up
• wheelchair ramp

Rhymes for ramp

• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp
• tamp
• tramp

Kids Definition

ramp

1 of 2 noun

ˈramp 

: a sloping way or plane: as

a

: a sloping passage or roadway connecting different levels

b

: a slope for launching boats

ramp

2 of 2 verb

: to increase, expand, or decrease especially quickly or at a constant rate

—usually used with up or down

ramp up production