wild

UK: /ˈwaɪld/ US: /waɪld/ ,(wīld)

Inflections of 'wild' (adj):

wilder

adj comparative

wildest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

wild /waɪld/   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. 

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

n. [countable]

14. 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), 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. 

19. in a wild manner;
    wildly.
20. Mining blow wild, (of an oil or gas well) to spout in an uncontrolled way, as in a blowout. Cf. blowout (def. 4).
21. 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. 

22. 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

wild′ly, adv. 
wild′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 1. tame.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wild / waɪld/ adjective

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: 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
16. (of theories, plans, etc) not fully thought out

adverb

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

noun

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

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

ˈwildish adjective

ˈwildly adverb

ˈwildness noun

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Wild / waɪld/ noun

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