wild

[ wahyld ]

adjective

, wild·er, wild·est.

1. living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated:

   a wild animal;

   wild geese.

   Synonyms: ferocious, unbroken

   Antonyms: tame

2. growing or produced without cultivation or the care of humans, as plants, flowers, fruit, or honey:

   wild cherries.

3. uncultivated, uninhabited, or waste:

   wild country.

4. uncivilized or barbarous:

   wild tribes.

   Synonyms: savage, barbarian

5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.; violent; furious:

   wild strife;

   wild storms.

   Synonyms: turbulent, frenzied, stormy, tempestuous

6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance:

   wild cries;

   a wild look.

   Synonyms: boisterous

7. frantic or distracted; crazy:

   to drive someone wild.

   Synonyms: insane

8. violently or uncontrollably affected:

   wild with rage;

   wild with pain.

9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless:

   a gang of wild boys.

   Synonyms: self-willed, wayward, unrestrained, riotous

10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled:

    wild enthusiasm.

    Synonyms: uncontrollable

11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence:

    He repented his wild youth.

12. unrestrained by reason or prudence:

    wild schemes.

    Synonyms: rash, reckless, impracticable, extravagant

13. amazing or incredible:

    Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?

    Synonyms: fanciful, strange, bizarre, grotesque

14. disorderly or disheveled:

    wild hair.

    Synonyms: unkempt

15. wide of the mark:

    He scored on a wild throw.

16. Informal. intensely eager or enthusiastic:

    wild to get started;

    wild about the new styles.

17. Cards. (of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players.
18. Metallurgy. (of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.

adverb

1. in a wild manner; wildly.

noun

1. Often wilds. an uncultivated, uninhabited, or desolate region or tract; waste; wilderness; desert:

   a cabin in the wild;

   a safari to the wilds of Africa.

verb (used with object)

, wild·ed, wild·ing.

1. to travel around as a group, attacking or assaulting (people) in a random and violent way:

   The man was wilded and left for dead.

wild

¹

/ waɪld /

adjective

1. (of animals) living independently of man; not domesticated or tame
2. (of plants) growing in a natural state; not cultivated
3. uninhabited or uncultivated; desolate

   a wild stretch of land

4. living in a savage or uncivilized way

   wild tribes

5. lacking restraint

   wild merriment

6. of great violence or intensity

   a wild storm

7. disorderly or chaotic

   wild thoughts

   wild talk

8. dishevelled; untidy

   wild hair

9. in a state of extreme emotional intensity

   wild with anger

10. reckless

    wild speculations

11. not calculated; random

    a wild guess

12. unconventional; fantastic; crazy

    wild friends

13. informal.
    postpositivefoll byabout intensely enthusiastic or excited
14. (of a card, such as a joker or deuce in some games) able to be given any value the holder pleases

    jacks are wild

15. wild and woolly
    1. rough; untamed; barbarous
    2. (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

adverb

1. in a wild manner
2. run wild
   1. to grow without cultivation or care
   2. to behave without restraint

noun

1. often plural a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region
2. the wild
   1. a free natural state of living
   2. the wilderness

Wild

²

/ waɪld /

noun

1. WildJonathan?16821725MBritishCRIME AND POLICING: criminal Jonathan. ?1682–1725, British criminal, who organized a network of thieves, highwaymen, etc, while also working as an informer: said to have sent over a hundred men to the gallows before being hanged himself

Derived Forms

• ˈwildish, adjective
• ˈwildly, adverb
• ˈwildness, noun

Other Words From

• wildly adverb
• wildness noun
• half-wild adjective
• half-wildly adverb
• half-wildness noun
• over·wild adjective
• over·wildly adverb
• over·wildness noun
• semi·wild adjective
• semi·wildly adverb
• semi·wildness noun
• un·wild adjective
• un·wildly adverb
• un·wildness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild¹

Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout. Compare blowout ( def 4 ).
2. in the wild,
   1. in a natural state or in the wilderness.
   2. in the real world; in real life:

      language learning in the classroom and in the wild.

3. run wild,
   1. to grow unchecked:

      The rambler roses are running wild.

   2. to show lack of restraint or control:

      Those children are allowed to run wild.

More idioms and phrases containing wild

• go hog wild
• go wilding
• run amok (wild)
• sow one's wild oats

Example Sentences

We could see that shrimp populations in the wild were declining in certain areas, for example.

From Slate

Graham Macklin, a researcher at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo, has written that what connects these far-right groups is the view that liberals are disconnected from “wild nature” — a Kaczynski term.

From Salon

Authorities believe the virus was acquired via an animal source; however, the teen was not on a farm nor near any known wild birds or backyard poultry — common reservoirs for the disease.

From Los Angeles Times

Since the virus appeared in North American wild birds in 2021, human cases have mostly presented as mild.

From Los Angeles Times

People voted, we will have a peaceful transfer of power, nobody’s saying “Stop the steal,” there won’t be a “Will be wild!” moment.

From Slate

Related Words

• exciting
• far-out
• groovy
• interesting
• jazzy
• remarkable