rampage

1 of 2

verb

ram·​page ˈram-ˌpāj How to pronounce rampage (audio)
(ˌ)ram-ˈpāj
rampaged; rampaging

intransitive verb

: to rush wildly about

rampage

2 of 2

noun

ram·​page ˈram-ˌpāj How to pronounce rampage (audio)
: a course of violent, riotous, or reckless action or behavior
rampageous adjective
rampageously adverb
rampageousness noun

Examples of rampage in a Sentence

Verb Rioters rampaged through the streets of the city. Noun some crazy guy went on a rampage in the public library and started grabbing books off the shelves and tossing them around
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.
Verb
The box wraps up about two years before Dylan’s rampaging performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, depicted in the movie. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 Jaxson Dart shines, Cam Skattebo rampages on TNF Dart met the moment on Thursday night, passing for 195 yards and one touchdown on 25 attempts while rushing for 58 and another score. Andy Behrens, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jennifer’s Body follows two polar opposite best friends, the outgoing Jennifer and bookish Needy (Amanda Seyfried), whose friendship takes a turn when the former embarks on a murderous rampage of her male classmates. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2025 This film is situated as a direct sequel to Halloween II, giving us a chance to check in with Laurie Strode 20 years after Michael Myers' first rampage. Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rampage

Word History

Etymology

Verb

originally Scots, probably an extension of ramp "to rage, storm about" (going back to early Scots and Middle English, "to rear up on the hind legs"), with a termination of uncertain origin — more at ramp entry 4

Note: The Scottish National Dictionary regards rampage as a blend of ramp "to rage, storm about" and rage (see rage entry 2); the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue, on the other hand, hypothesizes "perhaps ramp [the verb] + -age [the suffix -age]. As the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, points out, the original place of stress (and concomitantly the pronunciation) are unknown.

Noun

noun derivative of rampage entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1692, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rampage was in 1692

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rampage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rampage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rampage

1 of 2 verb
ram·​page ˈram-ˌpāj How to pronounce rampage (audio)
(ˈ)ram-ˈpāj
rampaged; rampaging
: to rush wildly about

rampage

2 of 2 noun
ram·​page ˈram-ˌpāj How to pronounce rampage (audio)
: a course of violent or reckless action or behavior
rampageous adjective
rampageously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on rampage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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