wild

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈwaɪld/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/waɪld/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(wīld)

Inflections of 'wild' (adj):
wilder
adj comparative
wildest
adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
wild /waɪld/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est, adv., n. 
adj. 
  1. living in a state of nature and not tamed:wild animals running free in the forest.
  2. growing or produced without being grown and cared for by humans, as flowers;
    not cultivated:wild flowers.
  3. without people living there;
    not inhabited;
    undeveloped:wild country.
  4. not civilized;
    barbarous;
    savage:The wild Northmen raided the coasts of England.
  5. having or showing violence or great strength and destruction:a wild storm.
  6. characterized by violent feelings:a wild look.
  7. very excited;
    frantic:That glamorous movie star drives him wild.
  8. very eager or enthusiastic:[be + ~]She's wild about her new job.
  9. not disciplined;
    unruly;
    reckless;
    uncontrollable:a gang of wild boys.
  10. not controlled by reason;
    not held back;
    uncontrolled:He had some wild schemes to get rich quick.
  11. wide of one's aim or goal:a wild pitch.
  12. Games(of a card) having its value decided by the wishes of the players:Deuces are wild.

adv. 
  1. in a wild manner:The gangs were running wild in the streets.

n. [countable]
  1. Often, wilds. [plural] an area of land that has not been cultivated;
    wilderness or wasteland.
wild•ly, adv.: He ran off screaming wildly about snakes and demons after him.
wild•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
wild  (wīld),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, adv., n. 
adj. 
  1. living in a state of nature;
    not tamed or domesticated:a wild animal; wild geese.
  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.
  5. of unrestrained violence, fury, intensity, etc.;
    violent;
    furious:wild strife; wild storms.
  6. characterized by or indicating violent feelings or excitement, as actions or a person's appearance:wild cries; a wild look.
  7. frantic or distracted;
    crazy:to drive someone wild.
  8. violently or uncontrollably affected:wild with rage; wild with pain.
  9. undisciplined, unruly, or lawless:a gang of wild boys.
  10. unrestrained, untrammeled, or unbridled:wild enthusiasm.
  11. disregardful of moral restraints as to pleasurable indulgence:He repented his wild youth.
  12. unrestrained by reason or prudence:wild schemes.
  13. amazing or incredible:Isn't that wild about Bill getting booted out of the club?
  14. disorderly or disheveled:wild hair.
  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. [Metall.](of molten metal) generating large amounts of gas during cooling, so as to cause violent bubbling.

adv. 
  1. in a wild manner;
    wildly.
  2. Mining blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout. Cf. blowout (def. 4).
  3. run wild:
    • to grow unchecked:The rambler roses are running wild.
    • to show lack of restraint or control:Those children are allowed to run wild.

n. 
  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.
  • bef. 900; Middle English, Old English wilde; cognate with Dutch, German wild, Old Norse villr, Swedish vild, Gothic wiltheis
wildly, adv. 
wildness, n. 
    1. undomesticated, untamed, unbroken; ferocious. 4. barbarian, savage. 5. tempestuous, stormy, frenzied, turbulent. 6. boisterous. 7. insane. 9. self-willed, riotous, unrestrained, wayward. 10. uncontrollable. 12. reckless, rash, extravagant, impracticable. 13. grotesque, bizarre, strange, fanciful. 14. unkempt.
    1. tame.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
wild /waɪld/ adj
  1. (of animals) living independently of humans; 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. (postpositive) followed by about: informal 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
  15. wild and woolly
    • rough; untamed; barbarous
    • (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out
adv
  1. in a wild manner
  2. run wild
    • to grow without cultivation or care
    • to behave without restraint
n
  1. (often plural) a desolate, uncultivated, or uninhabited region
  2. the wild
    • a free natural state of living
    • the wilderness
Etymology: Old English wilde; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wildi, Old Norse villr, Gothic wiltheisˈwildish adj ˈwildly adv ˈwildness n
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Wild /waɪld/ n
  1. 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
'wild' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: [practically, virtually, almost] extinct in the wild, wild [animals, boar, rice, flowers, fruit], wild [students, children], more...

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