wild

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
فارسی
Persian
Português
Portuguese
Français
French
Español
Spanish
Deutsch
German
/waɪld/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A term describing untamed nature, extreme or chaotic situations, striking excitement, and the wilderness itself, plus a slang intensifier.
Practice using wild in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Researchers tagged a wild for migration study.
  • A wild garden can attract many pollinators.
  • The fashion show featured wild designs.
  • His story sounded wild, but it was true.
  • The storm was wild, tearing roofs off houses.

Similar words

wilderness
feral creature
free
wildlife
epic
crazy
unrestrained
reckless
awesome
natural

Meanings

Living in a natural state

adjective
nature
neutral
Existing in the countryside or wilderness, not tamed or cultivated.

Usage

Use wild for animals, plants, or places that are untamed.

Examples

  • The wild fox darted across the meadow.
  • She prefers wild berries over cultivated ones.
  • Scientists study wild ecosystems to understand climate change.
  • A wild garden can attract many pollinators.
  • He grew up in a wild forest region.

Common mistakes

Using wild for domesticated items or mixing up the noun form.
IncorrectCorrect
My garden has many wild plants. My garden has many wild plants.
The wild animals were domesticated. The wild animals were untamed.
She bought a wild car. She bought a wild car.

Similar words

untamed
feral
natural
uncontrolled
savage
free
unrestrained

Uncontrolled or extreme

adjective
everyday
neutral
Characterized by a lack of restraint, often describing behavior, weather, or events.

Usage

Use wild for actions or situations that are chaotic or intense.

Examples

  • The party turned wild after midnight.
  • The storm was wild, tearing roofs off houses.
  • Fans behaved wild during the concert.
  • His wild temper scared his colleagues.
  • The wild river flooded the valley.

Common mistakes

Applying wild to calm situations or using it as a noun.
IncorrectCorrect
The quiet night was wild. The quiet night was calm.
She ran wild in the park. She ran wildly in the park.
The wild of the city was peaceful. The wild of the city was chaotic.

Similar words

recklessunrulychaotic
violent
intense
frenzied
rowdy

Very unusual or exciting

adjective
slang
informal
Describing something that is strikingly unusual or exciting, often in a positive way.

Usage

Use wild for surprising or impressive things, especially in informal speech.

Examples

  • That trick was wild, I can't believe it.
  • The video game has wild graphics.
  • She had a wild reaction to the news.
  • The fashion show featured wild designs.
  • His story sounded wild, but it was true.

Common mistakes

Confusing wild with the adverb wildly or using it for ordinary surprise.
IncorrectCorrect
The fireworks were wildly beautiful. The fireworks were wild.
He was wild about the new movie. He was wild about the new movie.
She looked wildly at the painting. She looked wild at the painting.

Similar words

crazy
insane
epic
awesome
mind-blowing
rad
lit

Untamed natural environment

noun
nature
neutral
The wild refers to areas of land that are largely untouched by human activity.

Usage

Use wild when referring to wilderness as a noun.

Examples

  • We trekked deep into the wild.
  • The documentary explores the wild of the Amazon.
  • He feels most alive when he's in the wild.
  • Conservationists work to protect the wild.
  • The guide warned about predators in the wild.

Common mistakes

Using wild as an adjective when the noun sense is intended.
IncorrectCorrect
We love the wild. We love the wild (the wilderness).
The wild is a city park. The wild is a protected natural area.
He lives in a wild. He lives in the wild.

Similar words

wilderness
wilds
backcountry
untamed land
nature reserve
outback
frontier

A wild animal or plant

noun
everyday
neutral
A wild is an animal or plant that lives in its natural habitat without domestication.

Usage

Use wild to denote a specific untamed creature.

Examples

  • A wild was spotted near the riverbank.
  • She rescued a wild that had a broken leg.
  • The park is home to many wilds.
  • Researchers tagged a wild for migration study.
  • Kids learned to identify different wilds in the zoo.

Common mistakes

Treating wild as a generic adjective instead of a noun for a creature.
IncorrectCorrect
The wild was very shy. The wild was very shy.
We saw many wilds at the zoo. We saw many wilds at the zoo.
A wild is a type of fruit. A wild is an untamed animal or plant.

Similar words

wildlife
feral creature
undomesticated animal

Usage

Choose wild for natural untamed contexts, chaotic events, striking excitement, or as a slang intensifier, and use the noun form when referring to wilderness.

Common mistakes

Confusing wild with the adverb wildly, as in She ran wild instead of She ran wildly.

Etymology

From Old English wilde “untamed, uncultivated”, related to German wild.

FAQ

What does wild mean as an adjective describing nature?

It describes something that lives in its natural state, not domesticated or cultivated.

How is wild used to describe extreme or uncontrolled situations?

It characterises events or behaviour that are chaotic, intense, or lacking restraint.

What does wild mean when used as a slang intensifier?

In youth slang it intensifies a statement, meaning crazy, unbelievable, or impressive.

What is the noun wild referring to?

It denotes the wilderness, the untamed natural environment.

Can wild refer to a specific animal or plant?

Yes, a wild is an untamed animal or plant living in its natural habitat.

What is the origin of the word wild?

It comes from Old English wilde, meaning untamed, and is related to German wild.

What are common mistakes when using wild?

A frequent error is confusing it with the adverb wildly, as in She ran wild instead of She ran wildly.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...