Word
trample
Phoneticstram·ple, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹæmpəɫ/
UK/tɹˈɑːmpəl/
Definition
v. to walk or run over something in a way that damages it. You use this when you step on grass, flowers, or even people's rights.
v. to tread heavily or carelessly on something, causing damage or destruction. Often used metaphorically to describe the suppression of rights or the disregard for social norms.
Examples
“The children trample the grass in the park.”
“The heavy boots of the soldiers trample the fragile flowers in the garden.”
“The new legislation was seen as a trample on the fundamental rights of the citizens, leading to widespread protests across the country.”
Examples
simple
“The children trample the grass in the park.”
contextual
“The heavy boots of the soldiers trample the fragile flowers in the garden.”
complex
“The new legislation was seen as a trample on the fundamental rights of the citizens, leading to widespread protests across the country.”
Real-World Examples
“For millions of years, through the Triassic and the Jurassic that followed, large dinosaurs kept such forests open and sunlit down to their trunks by feeding and trampling on plants.” Etymology
From Middle English tramplen, trampelen (“to walk heavily”), equivalent to tramp + -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian trampelje (“to trample”), Dutch trampelen (“to trample”), German Low German trampeln (“to trample”), German trampeln (“to trample”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/trample