ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rampage

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹæmˌpeɪdʒ// ram·page

n. a period of wild, violent, or uncontrolled behavior. It often describes a person or animal moving through a place and causing damage.

n. a period of violent and uncontrollable behavior, typically involving a group or individual moving through an area while causing destruction. Often used in the phrase 'on a rampage'.


SIMPLE

The angry elephant went on a rampage through the village.

CONTEXTUAL

The hackers went on a digital rampage, deleting files and crashing servers across the entire corporate network.

COMPLEX

The film depicts a monster on a destructive rampage through the city, leaving a trail of collapsed skyscrapers and panicked citizens in its wake.

Origin

From Scots rampage, equivalent to ramp + -age. Perhaps influenced by Middle English rampnen (“to force, ram”), from Old English hrampian, from Proto-West Germanic hrampōn (“to obstruct, hinder”), see ramp.

Usage

Commonly follows the preposition 'on' in the idiomatic construction 'on a rampage'.

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