Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rampages, present participle rampaging, past tense, past participle rampagedpronunciation note: Pronounced (ræmpeɪdʒ) for meaning [sense 1], and (ræmpeɪdʒ) for meaning [sense 2].
1. verb
When people or animals rampage through a place, they rush about there in a wild or violent way, causing damage or destruction.
Hundreds of youths rampaged through the town, shop windows were smashed and carsoverturned. [VERB adverb/preposition]
He used a sword to try to defend his shop from a rampaging mob. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: go berserk, tear, storm, rage More Synonyms of rampage
2.
See go on the rampage
More Synonyms of rampage
rampage in British English
verb (ræmˈpeɪdʒ)
1. (intransitive)
to rush about in an angry, violent, or agitated fashion
noun (ˈræmpeɪdʒ, ræmˈpeɪdʒ)
2.
angry or destructive behaviour
3. on the rampage
Derived forms
rampageous (ramˈpageous)
adjective
rampageously (ramˈpageously)
adverb
rampageousness (ramˈpageousness)
noun
rampager (ˈrampager)
noun
Word origin
C18: from Scottish, of uncertain origin; perhaps based on ramp
rampage in American English
(ˈræmˌpeɪdʒ; for v., also ræmˈpeɪdʒ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈramˌpaged or ˈramˌpaging
1.
to rush violently or wildly about; rage
noun
2.
an outbreak of violent, raging behavior
: chiefly in on the (or a) rampage
Derived forms
rampageous (ramˈpageous)
adjective
rampageously (ramˈpageously)
adverb
rampageousness (ramˈpageousness)
noun
rampager (ˈramˌpager)
noun
Word origin
orig. Scot & North Eng dial., prob. < ramp2
Examples of 'rampage' in a sentence
rampage
After wrecking machinery and burning down mills across Lancashire, the rampaging mobs were only finally brought to heel after fighting pitched battles with the army.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
During filming the pair did some crazy stunts including riding through narrow streets on a motorbike ahead of rampaging bulls.
The Sun (2010)
It is exactly a year ago that Britain was burning as young rioters rampaged through our towns.
The Sun (2012)
But the bull rampaged again.
The Sun (2007)
Diplomats serving in embassies in hostile regions have long been able to retreat to a reinforced inner sanctum, designed to shield them from rampaging mobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Faced with the choice of spending money to see a rampaging bull charge through the streets or pay for local services,councils have opted for the latter.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But when a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur scales a 40ft wall and embarks on a wild rampage, the fun turns to fear.
The Sun (2016)
That would involve, say, a rampaging mob destroying facilities owned by a foreign company while the police stand by looking on.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
IT sounded like the roar of 50,000 rampaging bull elephants and didn't let up all afternoon.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
rampage
British English: rampage VERB
When people or animals rampage through a place, they rush about there in a wild or violent way, causing damage or destruction.
Hundreds of youths rampaged through the town, smashing windows and overturning cars.
American English: rampage
Brazilian Portuguese: tumultuar
Chinese: 横冲直撞
European Spanish: arrasar
French: tout saccager
German: wüten
Italian: scatenarsi
Japanese: 暴れまわる
Korean: 미친 듯이 날뛰다
European Portuguese: tumultuar
Latin American Spanish: arrasar
Chinese translation of 'rampage'
rampage
(ræmˈpeɪdʒ)
n
to go on the rampage横(橫)冲(衝)直撞 (héng chōng zhí zhuàng)
vi
横(橫)冲(衝)直撞 (héng chōng zhí zhuàng)
(verb)
Definition
to rush about violently
He used a sword to defend his shop from a rampaging mob.
Synonyms
go berserk
tear
storm
‘It's a fiasco,’ he stormed.
rage
The war rages on and the time has come to take sides.
run riot
Rampaging prisoners ran riot through the jail.
run amok
run wild
The sheep had run wild.
go ballistic (slang)
go ape (slang)
When he found out, he went ape.
go apeshit (slang, mainly US)
(noun)
Synonyms
frenzy
Something like a frenzy enveloped them.
violence
Twenty people were injured in the violence.
storm
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
rage
I flew into a rage.
destruction
fury
She screamed, her face distorted with fury.
uproar
tempest
I hadn't foreseen the tempest my request would cause.
tumult
Round one ended to a tumult of whistles, screams and shouts.
phrase
See on the rampage
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fury
Definition
violent anger
She screamed, her face distorted with fury.
Synonyms
anger,
passion,
rage,
madness (informal),
frenzy,
wrath,
ire,
red mist (informal),
impetuosity
in the sense of go ape
When he found out, he went ape.
Synonyms
be furious,
storm,
rage,
rave,
blow up (informal),
fume,
be angry,
lose it (informal),
fret,
seethe,
crack up (informal),
see red (informal),
chafe,
lose the plot (informal),
go ballistic (slang),
rant and rave,
foam at the mouth,
lose your temper,
blow a fuse (slang, US),
fly off the handle (informal),
be incandescent,
go off the deep end (informal),
throw a fit (informal),
go up the wall (slang),
blow your top,
lose your rag (slang),
be beside yourself,
flip your lid (slang)
in the sense of rage
Definition
to proceed violently and without restraint
The war rages on and the time has come to take sides.
Synonyms
be at its height,
surge,
rampage,
be turbulent,
be uncontrollable,
storm
Synonyms of 'rampage'
rampage
Explore 'rampage' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rage
Definition
intense anger or passion
I flew into a rage.
Synonyms
fury,
temper,
frenzy,
rampage,
tantrum,
fit of pique,
fit of temper,
foulie (Australian, slang),
hissy fit (informal),
strop (British, informal),
paddy (British, slang)
in the sense of run riot
Definition
to behave without restraint
Rampaging prisoners ran riot through the jail.
Synonyms
rampage,
go wild,
be out of control,
raise hell,
let yourself go,
break or cut loose,
throw off all restraint
in the sense of run wild
Definition
to behave without restraint
The sheep had run wild.
Synonyms
go on the rampage,
stray,
rampage,
run riot,
cut loose,
run free,
kick over the traces,
be undisciplined,
abandon all restraint
in the sense of storm
Definition
to shout angrily
‘It's a fiasco,’ he stormed.
Synonyms
rage,
fume,
rant,
complain,
thunder,
rave,
scold,
bluster,
go ballistic (slang),
fly off the handle (informal),
wig out (slang)
in the sense of storm
Definition
a violent disturbance or quarrel
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
Synonyms
outburst,
row,
stir,
outcry,
furore,
violence,
anger,
passion,
outbreak,
turmoil,
disturbance,
strife,
clamour,
agitation,
commotion,
rumpus,
tumult,
hubbub
in the sense of tempest
I hadn't foreseen the tempest my request would cause.
Synonyms
uproar,
storm,
furore,
disturbance,
upheaval,
ferment,
commotion,
tumult
in the sense of tumult
Definition
a loud confused noise, such as one produced by a crowd
Round one ended to a tumult of whistles, screams and shouts.
Synonyms
clamour,
row,
outbreak,
racket,
din,
uproar,
fracas,
commotion,
pandemonium,
babel,
hubbub,
hullabaloo
in the sense of violence
Definition
the use of physical force, usually intended to cause injury or destruction