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
MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The trick is to find a good property to buy before the stampede of other buyers comes out once again as rates drop.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, this all amounted to a 35-7 drubbing for the Jaguars at the hands of the stampeding Rams.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stampede
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.
Noun
The Saudi government has poured massive investment into redeveloping the area around holy site following a series of deadly stampedes and a crane accident that killed more than a hundred people in 2015.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
The trick is to find a good property to buy before the stampede of other buyers comes out once again as rates drop.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
After Grande is seen walking down an aisle, the event appears to be disrupted by a group of stampeding animals.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, this all amounted to a 35-7 drubbing for the Jaguars at the hands of the stampeding Rams.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stampede
Cite this Entry
“Stampede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stampede. Accessed 4 Nov. 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"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share