Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stampedes, present participle stampeding, past tense, past participle stampeded
1. countable noun [usually singular]
If there is a stampede, a group of people or animals run in a wild, uncontrolled way.
There was a stampede for the exit.
Synonyms: rush, charge, flight, scattering More Synonyms of stampede
2. verb
If a group of animals or people stampede or if something stampedes them, they run in a wild, uncontrolled way.
The crowd stampeded and many were crushed or trampled underfoot. [VERB]
They stampede cattle to distract farmers before raiding their homes. [VERB noun]
...a herd of stampeding cattle. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: bolt, run, charge, race More Synonyms of stampede
3. countable noun [usually singular]
If a lot of people all do the same thing at the same time, you can describe it as a stampede.
Generous redundancy terms had triggered a stampede of staff wanting to leave.
...a stampede by farmers to buy up cheap land.
4. verb
If people are stampededinto doing something, they are forced into doing it by pressure from other people, even though they do not think it is the right thing to do.
Do we really want to be stampeded in such a way? [beVERB-ed]
He had stampeded the Government into taking action. [VERB noun into noun]
stampede in British English
(stæmˈpiːd)
noun
1.
an impulsive headlong rush of startled cattle or horses
2.
headlong rush of a crowd
a stampede of shoppers
3.
any sudden large-scale movement or other action, such as a rush of people to support a candidate
4. Western US and Canadian
a rodeo event featuring fairground and social elements
verb
5.
to run away or cause to run away in a stampede
Derived forms
stampeder (stamˈpeder)
noun
Word origin
C19: from American Spanish estampida, from Spanish: a din, from estampar to stamp, of Germanic origin; see stamp
stampede in American English
(stæmˈpid)
US
noun
1.
a sudden, headlong running away of a group of frightened animals, esp. horses or cattle
2.
a confused, headlong rush or flight of a large group of people
3.
any sudden, impulsive, spontaneous mass movement
a stampede to support a candidate
verb intransitiveWord forms: stamˈpeded or stamˈpeding
4.
to move, or take part, in a stampede
verb transitive
5.
to cause to stampede
6.
to make a headlong charge at or upon as a group
panicked patrons stampeded the exits
Derived forms
stampeder (stamˈpeder)
noun
Word origin
AmSp estampida < Sp, a crash, uproar < estampar, to stamp < Gmc *stampjan, stamp
Examples of 'stampede' in a sentence
stampede
The boom has sparked a stampede to turn comedy into gold.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
That was the moment that triggered the stampede.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And free seating can trigger a stampede.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That could lead to a stampede for the exit before the doors close.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And this collection looks set to cause a serious stampede.
The Sun (2009)
They made no prediction as to whether the results would trigger a stampede of young men eager to sign up for voluntary work.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Despite the fanfare that accompanied the announcement, the scheme may not trigger a stampede of investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's hard to see how this could not trigger an enormously destabilising stampede for the exit.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The last thing you want to do is find yourself stranded in a stampede of people all trying to leave at the same time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You would hope players on a football pitch would be protected at some stage rather than having a stampede of people on to the pitch.
The Sun (2012)
But she saves the day when she hits some buttons on a hand-held device and the herd stampede into an anomaly.
The Sun (2009)
Huge stampede for the exit.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Her fluid dresses and patterned tops caused a stampede when they were first introduced two years ago, and the range keeps getting better.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The annual stampede to buy presents for all the family will reach its climax this weekend with 20 million people searching the shops for the best bargain.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The news that four key Chinese steel plants were cutting production this year by up to a fifth triggered a stampede, particularly out of mining stocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The coalition's third attempt at seeking a sustainable fees regime is different, triggering a stampede by dozens of universities to charge the maximum fee from next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
stampede
British English: stampede NOUN
If there is a stampede, a group of people or animals run in a wild, uncontrolled way.
There was a stampede for the exit.
American English: stampede
Brazilian Portuguese: debandada
Chinese: > 狂奔的群体人群或兽群的
European Spanish: estampida
French: ruée
German: Massenandrang
Italian: fuggi fuggi
Japanese: どっと押し寄せること
Korean: 우르르 몰리는 사태
European Portuguese: debandada
Latin American Spanish: estampida
British English: stampede VERB
If a group of animals or people stampede or if something stampedes them, they run in a wild, uncontrolled way.
The crowd stampeded and many were crushed or trampled underfoot.
American English: stampede
Brazilian Portuguese: debandar
Chinese: > 狂奔人群或兽群的
European Spanish: salir en estampida
French: s'enfuir en désordre
German: losstürmen
Italian: fuggire precipitosamente
Japanese: どっと押し寄せる
Korean: 우르르 몰리다
European Portuguese: debandar
Latin American Spanish: salir en estampida
Chinese translation of 'stampede'
stampede
(stæmˈpiːd)
n(c)
[of animals]惊(驚)跑 (jīngpǎo)
[of people]蜂拥(擁) (fēngyōng)
vi
[animals]惊(驚)跑 (jīngpǎo)
[people]蜂拥(擁) (fēngyōng)
(noun)
Definition
a sudden rush of frightened animals or of a crowd
There was a stampede for the exit.
Synonyms
rush
The explosion caused panic and a mad rush for the doors.
charge
He led the cavalry charge from the front.
flight
scattering
rout
(verb)
Definition
to run away in a stampede
The crowd stampeded and many were crushed or trampled underfoot.