Skip to main content
to stampede

to stampede

4 4.4
To make a group run suddenly because of fear or excitement
  • verb
  • /stæmˈpiːd/
translation icon : salir en estampida
  • People were drooling at the mouth, ready to stampede, knocking each other over to get China to open up its market.

Examples

  • When the fire alarm rang, everyone in the theater started to stampede towards the exits.

  • People hit the floor, knock over chairs, and stampede for the exits.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Few students hear these final words as they stampede out to avoid being late for the next period.

    Academic text (2010)
  • More and more people stampede out.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Leonard loses his balance and is pushed to the ground as kids stampede over him.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The cops are unable to hold back the crowd as it stampedes to the exits.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The door bursts open and twenty Babyzillas stampede into the hallway.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The crowd stampedes for the exits, shrieking.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • With a shivering cheer, the trainees stampede ashore, grabbing blankets, trading body bumps and high-fives.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The excited crowd began to stampede towards the stage as the concert was about to start.

Synonyms

to rush
vsto stampede
548 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to flee
vsto stampede
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to burst
vsto stampede
115 1.9

Enter or appear suddenly with energy

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to dash
vsto stampede
73 1.0

To move very quickly to reach a place

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to run
vsto stampede
72 5.8

To let animals move and feed freely in a field

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to surge
vsto stampede
57 4.1

To move suddenly and strongly forward or upward, like a wave

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to rush in
vsto stampede
36 3.1

Act quickly without thinking, for example by going into a place

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to rush off
vsto stampede
20 3.8

Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to skedaddle
vsto stampede
  • Informal
14 9.3

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to rush out
vsto stampede
9 3.3

To run out quickly from a hiding place to surprise someone

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to bolt out
vsto stampede
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
scamper
vsto stampede
3 4.3

A quick, playful run using small, hurried steps

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to rush away
vsto stampede
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to rush along
vsto stampede
1 2.7

To move quickly in one direction

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement
to bolt down
vsto stampede
  • Informal
6.1

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is sudden collective motion usually from fear or excitement

Antonyms

Stay upright in one place without moving

How Violent

to riot
26 4.9
to stampede
4 4.4
to surge
57 4.1
to assemble
152 3.3

Surface Forms

stampede infinitive
stampeded past
stampeded past participle
stamping present participle
stamps third person singular

Morphology

stampede = stamp (semi-transparent) = stamp + ede

The verb sense preserves the visible relation to 'stamp', but the ending is not a productive English verbal suffix and the word is ultimately a borrowing, so the morphological link is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The verb stampede comes from the Spanish root estampar 'to stamp' and the English word stamp. So to 'stampede' a herd or a crowd is to make them suddenly stamp and run together in panic.