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
Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
In the stampede of people rushing out the doorway and others trying to get back in, Jasper's brothers became trapped against the window of a door that led to an exit.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Far more effective than anything Karl Rove could have imagined was what Democrats did to stampede the devout into the opposing side.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stampede
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Noun
There was a stampede and a young woman fell in front of him.
—Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
In the stampede of people rushing out the doorway and others trying to get back in, Jasper's brothers became trapped against the window of a door that led to an exit.
—Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Brands such as Armani, Italian private club operator Cipriani and carmaker Aston Martin have all stampeded into Miami’s residential scene.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Far more effective than anything Karl Rove could have imagined was what Democrats did to stampede the devout into the opposing side.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 Sep. 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 18 Oct. 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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