English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb B2 Upper-Intermediate

trample

TRAM-puhl

Trample (verb) means to crush or damage something by walking heavily on it. Example: “The crowd trampled the flowerbeds trying to get to the stage.”

verb
1
To crush or damage something by walking heavily on it.
"The crowd trampled the flowerbeds trying to get to the stage."
"Careful not to trample the seedlings."
2
To treat someone or their rights harshly and without regard.
"The new policy tramples on workers' basic rights."

How to use trample

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo crush something underfoot, or to disregard someone's rights harshly.

Common pairings
trample on rights trample underfoot trample the grass

Word forms

trampled past tense, tramples plural, tramples singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “trample” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The crowd _____ the flowerbeds trying to get to the stage.

Etymology

From Middle English tramplen, formed from tramp + the frequentative suffix -le, suggesting repeated heavy steps.

Origin: Middle English

tread tramp down tread down

Related words

Rhymes for trample

See all rhymes for trample →

Frequently asked questions

What does “trample” mean?

The word “trample” means to crush or damage something by walking heavily on it. In plain terms, to crush something underfoot, or to disregard someone's rights harshly.

How do you pronounce “trample”?

“Trample” is pronounced TRAM-puhl (/ˈtɹæmpəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “trample” in a sentence?

Here is “trample” used in a sentence: “The crowd trampled the flowerbeds trying to get to the stage.”

What part of speech is “trample”?

“Trample” is a verb.

Where does the word “trample” come from?

The word “trample” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tramplen, formed from tramp + the frequentative suffix -le, suggesting repeated heavy steps.

How many meanings does “trample” have?

“Trample” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to crush or damage something by walking heavily on it.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial