1
a
: living in a state of nature and not ordinarily tame or domesticated
wild ducks
b(1)
: growing or produced without human aid or care
wild honey
(2)
: related to or resembling a corresponding cultivated or domesticated organism
c
: of or relating to wild organisms
the wild state
2
a
: not inhabited or cultivated
wild land
b
: not amenable to human habitation or cultivation
also : desolate
3
a(1)
: not subject to restraint or regulation : uncontrolled
also : unruly
(2)
: emotionally overcome
wild with grief
also : passionately eager or enthusiastic
was wild to own a toy train J. C. Furnas
b
: marked by turbulent agitation : stormy
a wild night
c
: going beyond normal or conventional bounds : fantastic
wild ideas
also : sensational
d
: indicative of strong passion, desire, or emotion
a wild gleam of delight in his eyesIrish Digest
4
5
: characteristic of, appropriate to, or expressive of wilderness, wildlife, or a simple or uncivilized society
6
a
: deviating from the intended or expected course
wild spellingC. W. Cunnington
the throw was wild
also : tending to throw inaccurately
a wild pitcher
b
: having no basis in known or surmised fact
a wild guess
7
of a playing card : able to represent any card designated by the holder
wildish adjective
wildness noun

wild

2 of 3

noun

1
: a sparsely inhabited or uncultivated region or tract : wilderness
2
: a wild, free, or natural state or existence

wild

3 of 3

adverb

: in a wild manner: such as
a
: without regulation or control
plants that grow wild
b
: off an intended or expected course

Examples of wild in a Sentence

Adjective wild places high in the mountains I felt a wild rage. He was wild with anger. The crowd went wild when the band took the stage. Noun They hiked through the wilds of Maine. The plants were collected from the wild. They will return the animal to the wild when it is healthy. Could these animals survive in the wild? I've only seen that animal in a zoo, never in the wild. Adverb These plants grow wild on the roadside. as soon as the doors opened, early-morning bargain hunters ran wild through the store
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Our staff has picks against the spread for the biggest Week 7 games, plus extra wild-card picks where anything goes at the bottom. Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Harvesting and preparing wild nuts can pose a challenge, including foraging in the wild and weekslong curing of nuts once harvested. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
At fifteen, on a whim, Russell, a pretty jock with a mane of wild, honey-blond curls, passionate about her after-school dance classes but with no particular dreams about show business, had tagged along with some friends to a Disney open casting call at the Colorado Convention Center. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 However, some fish are more difficult to breed and raise, and may only be available as wild-caught. Simon Spichak, Health, 1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Lamb's Quarters Lamb's quarters is a wild-growing green that's very high in calcium. Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Oct. 2025 Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for wild

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English wilde, from Old English; akin to Old High German wildi wild, Welsh gwyllt

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wild was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wild. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

wild

1 of 3 adjective
1
a
: living in a state of nature and not under human control and care
wild animals
b
: growing or produced without human aid and care
wild honey
c
: of or relating to wild organisms
the wild state
2
: not inhabited or cultivated
wild land
3
a
: not being under control
wild rage
a wild young stallion
b
: marked by disturbance and confusion
a wild night
c
: going beyond what is usual : fantastic
wild colors
wild ideas
4
: not civilized : savage
5
: being far off the intended course
a wild pitch
6
: having no basis in fact
a wild guess
7
: able to represent any card designated by the holder
poker with deuces wild
wildly
ˈwī(ə)l-(d)lē
adverb
wildness noun

wild

2 of 3 noun

wild

3 of 3 adverb
1
: in a wild manner : wildly
2
: without rules or control
running wild

More from Merriam-Webster on wild

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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