stampede

noun stam·pede \ (ˌ)stam-ˈpēd \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Examples: stampede in a Sentence

Definition of stampede

1 : a wild headlong rush or flight of frightened animals

2 : a mass movement of people at a common impulse

3 : an extended festival combining a rodeo with exhibitions, contests, and social events

See stampede defined for English-language learners

See stampede defined for kids

Examples of stampede in a Sentence

a stampede to the exits
a stampede to buy the stock
a stampede of new applicants

Recent Examples of stampede from the Web

About 1,000 people were at the event when the shooting began, triggering a stampede.

— laura mccrystal, Philly.com, "Gov. Murphy condemns Trenton arts festival shooting and vows to bring those responsible for 'the lawlessness' to justice," 18 June 2018
On the ground that night, the story’s repercussions could be seen in real time with the stampede for the door, Ms. Guevara said.

— michael wilson, New York Times, "An Online Agitator, a Social Media Exposé and the Fallout in Brooklyn," 6 June 2018
The attack set off a stampede as panicked people rushed to safety, according to officials and the state broadcaster.

— hadra ahmed, BostonGlobe.com, "Explosions hit rallies for leaders of Ethiopia, Zimbabwe," 23 June 2018
The Warriors went 140-24 in the two regular seasons before Durant arrived, including their record-setting, 73-win stampede through the 2015-16 season.

— ron kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "Warriors dynasty defined: Before KD, and after KD," 16 June 2018
England raced clear with a devastating opening stanza of tries from Mike Brown, Elliot Daly and Owen Farrell, but South Africa's livewire scrumhalf Faf de Klerk orchestrated a Springbok stampede.

— CNN, "Rugby's southern hemisphere sides strike first blows," 11 June 2018
Whether the haul-outs are full of bulls, or females and young, biologists worry that humans will spook them, sending them into a potentially deadly stampede into the water for safety.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Bachelor herds’ of walrus gather near Port Heiden, where they haven’t been seen in decades," 9 May 2018
That exodus ramped up to a stampede during the Great Recession of 2008-12, when Michigan's job market tanked, Metzger said.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan is aging faster than the rest of the U.S. – here's why," 8 June 2018
The vast majority, according to the group, have joined a stampede of Venezuelans leaving the country to escape food lines and empty grocery store shelves.

— anthony faiola and rachelle krygier, chicagotribune.com, "A historic exodus is leaving Venezuela without teachers, doctors and electricians," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stampede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stampede

American Spanish estampida, from Spanish, crash, from estampar to stamp, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stampfōn to stamp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1828

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

stampede

verb

Definition of stampede

stampeded; stampeding

transitive verb

1 : to cause to run away in headlong panic

2 : to cause (a group or mass of people) to act on sudden or rash impulse

intransitive verb

1 : to flee headlong in panic

2 : to act on mass impulse

—

stampeder

noun

See stampede defined for English-language learners

Examples of stampede in a Sentence

People stampeded to the exits.
The gunshot stampeded the cattle.

Recent Examples of stampede from the Web

Claire and Owen, but also military vet Zia (Daniella Pineda) and computer nerd Franklin (Justice Smith)—running away from cool-looking explosions while enormous dinosaurs stampede all around them.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "We’re Going to Need a Bigger Island," 22 June 2018
The victims, eight of whom were younger than 18, suffered either asphyxia or trauma to the body as hundreds of clubgoers stampeded to escape the fumes.

— nicole winfield, BostonGlobe.com, "Pope: Abortion is ‘white glove’ equivalent to Nazi crimes," 17 June 2018
And while polls show mixed evidence of a Democratic turnout advantage in November, in practice, party voters have stampeded to the polls in the actual elections held since Trump took office.

— ronald brownstein, CNN, "Beating Republicans in November will be harder than Democrats thought," 22 May 2018
Whether stampeding drunk through St. Mark’s Square at midnight or scaring off the monkeys in the Amazon, out-of-control vacationers are wreaking havoc everywhere.

— joe queenan, WSJ, "Skip the Selfie and Run: Busy Locales Get Tough With Tourists," 31 May 2018
Noisy approaches by people can startle herds, sending walruses stampeding into water, which can crush and kill vulnerable animals.

— Washington Post, "Walrus surprise residents in remote Alaska village," 9 May 2018
He's been a supportive teammate, but sat and watched as the Pelicans stampeded into the second round by playing at a breakneck pace and bombing away from three-point range with Davis playing at center.

— tim bontemps, chicagotribune.com, "Will DeMarcus Cousins be back with the New Orleans Pelicans?," 9 May 2018
The dressing room doors opened and here came the media horde, stampeding across the carpet toward the faraway stall.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "After a Dismal Series Start, Tampa Bay Quickly Regrouped to Reach Eastern Conference Final," 6 May 2018
People are not going to caravan or otherwise stampede our border.

— daniel gonzález, azcentral, "Sessions sends more prosecutors, judges to border in wake of migrant caravan," 2 May 2018

First Known Use of stampede

1838

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STAMPEDE Defined for English Language Learners

stampede

noun

Definition of stampede for English Language Learners

: an occurrence in which a large group of frightened or excited animals or people run together in a wild and uncontrolled way to escape from something, get out of a place, etc.
: a situation in which a lot of people try to do the same thing at the same time

stampede

verb

Definition of stampede for English Language Learners

: to run away in a large group from something especially because of fear
: to cause (animals) to run away in a large group
: to cause (a person or a group of people) to do something suddenly and without proper thought

STAMPEDE Defined for Kids

stampede

noun stam·pede \ stam-ˈpēd \

Definition of stampede for Students

1 : a wild rush or flight of frightened animals or people

2 : a sudden foolish action or movement of a large number of people

stampede

verb

Definition of stampede for Students

stampeded; stampeding

1 : to run or cause to run away in fright or panic

People stampeded to the exits.

2 : to act or cause to act together suddenly and without thought

Learn More about stampede

See words that rhyme with stampede Spanish Central: Translation of stampede Nglish: Translation of stampede for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stampede for Arabic speakers

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stampede

Definition of stampede

Examples of stampede in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stampede from the Web

Origin and Etymology of stampede

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

stampede

Definition of stampede

stampeder

Examples of stampede in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stampede from the Web

First Known Use of stampede

STAMPEDE Defined for English Language Learners

stampede

Definition of stampede for English Language Learners

stampede

Definition of stampede for English Language Learners

STAMPEDE Defined for Kids

stampede

Definition of stampede for Students

stampede

Definition of stampede for Students

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