stam·pede
(ˌ)stam-ˈpēd 
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
stampeded; stampeding
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
stampeder
noun
Examples of stampede in a Sentence
Noun
a stampede to the exits
a stampede to buy the stock
a stampede of new applicants
Verb
People stampeded to the exits.
The gunshot stampeded the cattle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 June 2025
The deciding game in last year’s Final scared up 7.66 million viewers on ABC, a stampede that boosted the overall series average by 16%.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 June 2025
Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025
That year, Tehran officially questioned the ability of the Saudis to manage and secure the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca—a critical pillar of Saudi legitimacy—after the Hajj Mina stampede in Mecca that year killed hundreds of Iranian pilgrims (and thousands overall).
—Payam Mohseni, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2017
See All Example Sentences for stampede
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Noun
According to Swain, first responders took 15 people to a local hospital following the stampede, and three people were later pronounced dead.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 June 2025
The deciding game in last year’s Final scared up 7.66 million viewers on ABC, a stampede that boosted the overall series average by 16%.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 June 2025
Verb
Buffalo stampede The thing to know: The Dolphins, as usual, will be stampeded by Buffalo twice.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025
That year, Tehran officially questioned the ability of the Saudis to manage and secure the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca—a critical pillar of Saudi legitimacy—after the Hajj Mina stampede in Mecca that year killed hundreds of Iranian pilgrims (and thousands overall).
—Payam Mohseni, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2017
See All Example Sentences for stampede
Cite this Entry
“Stampede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stampede. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stampede
1 of 2 noun
stam·pede
stam-ˈpēd
1
: a wild rush or flight of frightened animals
2
: a sudden movement of a crowd of people
stampede
2 of 2 verb
stampeded; stampeding
1
: to run away or cause (as cattle) to run away in panic
2
: to act together or cause to act together suddenly and without thought
Etymology
Noun
from a word in the Spanish of Mexico and the American Southwest, estampida "stampede," from Spanish estampida "a crash, loud noise," from estamper "to pound, stamp"
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