trample

[ tram-puhl ]

verb (used without object)

, tram·pled, tram·pling.

1. to tread or step heavily and noisily; stamp.
2. to tread heavily, roughly, or crushingly (usually followed by on, upon, or over ):

   to trample on a flower bed.

3. to act in a harsh, domineering, or cruel manner, as if treading roughly (usually followed by on, upon, or over ):

   to trample on another's feelings.

verb (used with object)

, tram·pled, tram·pling.

1. to tread heavily, roughly, or carelessly on or over; tread underfoot.
2. to domineer harshly over; crush:

   to trample law and order.

3. to put out or extinguish by trampling (usually followed by out ):

   to trample out a fire.

noun

1. the act of trampling.
2. the sound of trampling.

trample

/ ˈtræmpəl /

verb

1. to stamp or walk roughly (on)

   to trample the flowers

2. to encroach (upon) so as to violate or hurt

   to trample on someone's feelings

noun

1. the action or sound of trampling

Derived Forms

• ˈtrampler, noun

Other Words From

• trampler noun
• un·trampled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trample¹

1350–1400; Middle English tramplen to stamp (cognate with German trampeln ); tramp, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of trample¹

C14: frequentative of tramp ; compare Middle High German trampeln

Example Sentences

After a few people take a particular shortcut, others see the trampled grass and follow suit.

From Los Angeles Times

For nearly a decade now, Donald Trump, sexual predator and now convicted felon, has trampled even the loosest definition of civility into the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

A month later, four people, including a two-year-old boy, died after seemingly being "trampled to death" on two separate boats.

From BBC

Cows in a field where a woman was trampled to death were "easy-going" and would usually move away from people, an inquest has heard.

From BBC

A woman sent a picture of cows in a field to her mother moments before she was trampled to death, an inquest has heard.

From BBC

Related Words

• crush
• encroach
• flatten
• hurt
• infringe
• injure
• override
• overwhelm
• run over
• squash
• step on
• stomp
• violate