wild
gb/wˈaɪld/ us/wˈaɪld/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Living in a natural state
Living or growing freely in nature, not kept or controlled by people.
Usage pattern:
[wild] [animal/plant/area]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wild' with 'dangerous'; something wild may not be dangerous.
Synonyms
untamed (Emphasizes not being trained or controlled by humans.)
Antonyms
domesticated (Refers to animals or plants bred and adapted for human use.)
Collocations
wild animal
|wild plant
|wild bird
|wild forest
Themes
nature
|animals
|environment
Examples
- Lions are wild animals that live in Africa.
- This area is home to many wild plants and flowers.
- The park protects wild birds from hunters.
Learner examples
- A tiger is a wild animal.
- We saw wild flowers near the river.
- The forest is full of wild birds.
adjective
B1
property
2
Uncontrolled or chaotic
Very excited, noisy, or without control.
Usage pattern:
[wild] [behavior/event]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'wild' instead of 'crazy' in informal contexts; 'wild' can be neutral or positive.
Synonyms
unrestrained (Focuses on the lack of limits or rules.)
Antonyms
calm (Shows quiet and controlled behavior.)
Collocations
wild party
|wild behavior
|wild celebration
|run wild
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The crowd went wild when the band came on stage.
- They had a wild party that lasted all night.
- Her wild laughter filled the room.
Learner examples
- The children were wild after eating candy.
- He had a wild look in his eyes.
- The game made the fans go wild.
adjective
B2
property
3
Extreme or unusual
Very big, strong, or strange in a way that is not normal.
Usage pattern:
[wild] [idea/guess/difference]
Synonyms
outrageous (Suggests being shockingly unusual or extreme.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Normal and not extreme or unusual.)
Collocations
wild idea
|wild guess
|wild difference
Themes
description
|intensity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He made a wild guess about the answer.
- That’s a wild story—are you sure it’s true?
- There’s been a wild change in the weather today.
Learner examples
- I made a wild guess on the test.
- She told us a wild story about her trip.
- It was a wild idea to climb the mountain alone.
adjective
B1
property
4
Remote and natural area
Land that is far from towns and not used for farming or buildings.
Usage pattern:
[wild] [land/area/place]
Synonyms
untouched (Emphasizes not being changed by human activity.)
Antonyms
developed (Describes land altered for human use.)
Collocations
wild landscape
|wild countryside
|wild coast
Themes
geography
|travel
|nature
Examples
- They hiked through miles of wild countryside.
- The island’s wild beauty attracts many photographers.
- This region remains one of the wildest parts of the country.
Learner examples
- We walked through the wild forest.
- The park has many wild areas.
- He likes to travel to wild places.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wild
IPA
GB/wˈaɪld/
US/wˈaɪld/
Syllables & stress
wild (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wild)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: wild
- Comparative: wilder
- Superlative: wildest
Word family
Forms
wilder
adjective
wildest
adjective
Core family
Related words
wildness
noun
wildflower
noun
Negative and opposite forms
tame
adjective A2
Expressions
drive someone wild
1/dɹˈaɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈaɪld/
idiom
informal
Make someone very excited or upset
To make someone feel very excited, happy, angry, or attracted.
Examples
- Her constant humming drives me wild.
- His smile drives her wild with happiness.
in the wild
1/ˈɪn ðə wˈaɪld/
fixed phrase
In natural conditions outdoors
Living in nature without human control.
Examples
- These animals are rarely seen in the wild.
- The species no longer exists in the wild.
run wild
1/ɹˈʌn wˈaɪld/
idiom
Behave freely without control
To act freely without rules or limits.
Examples
- When the teacher left the room, the children ran wild.
- The weeds have run wild in the garden.
wild about something/someone
1/wˈaɪld əbˈaʊt səmˈɛθɪŋsˈoʊmˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
informal
Very enthusiastic about something/someone
To like something or someone very much.
Examples
- She’s wild about chocolate.
- He’s wild about his new girlfriend.