trample

/ˈtɹæmpəl/

//ˈtɹæmpəl// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"trample" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“trample” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #35,992 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#35,992
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To crush something by walking on it.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

trample vs triple
71% similar
trample vs tramps
71% similar
trample vs tremble
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for trample
PropertyValue
Headwordtrample
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈtɹæmpəl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#35,992
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “trample” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). trample lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for trample is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtɹæmpəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #35,992 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for trample, with forms such as "rtample", "tarmple", and "tramlpe". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "triple", "tramps", "tremble", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English tramplen, trampelen (“to walk heavily”), equivalent to tramp + -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian trampelje (“to trample”), Dutch trampelen (“to trample”), German Low German trampeln (“to trample”), German trampeln (“to trample”). The correct English form is trample, spelled T-R-A-M-P-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To crush something by walking on it.
  2. 2
    To treat someone harshly.
  3. 3
    To walk heavily and destructively.
  4. 4
    To cause emotional injury as if by trampling.

Etymology

From Middle English tramplen, trampelen (“to walk heavily”), equivalent to tramp + -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian trampelje (“to trample”), Dutch trampelen (“to trample”), German Low German trampeln (“to trample”), German trampeln (“to trample”).

Synonyms

treadcalcate

This word in other languages

pisotear(Español)fouler(Français)trampeln(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: rtample,tarmple,tramlpe,trammple,trampel,tramplle,trampple,trapmle,trmaple,trrample,ttrample

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of trample - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

rtample2tarmple2tramlpe2trammple1trampel2tramplle1trampple1trapmle2
Edit distance from "trample"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "trample"?
"trample" is spelled T-R-A-M-P-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɹæmpəl/.
What does "trample" mean?
As a verb, "trample" means: To crush something by walking on it.
What words are commonly confused with "trample"?
"trample" is commonly confused with "triple", "tramps", "tremble". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "trample"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "trample" is /ˈtɹæmpəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "trample"?
From Middle English tramplen, trampelen (“to walk heavily”), equivalent to tramp + -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian trampelje (“to trample”), Dutch trampelen (“to trample”), German Low German trampeln (“to trample”), German trampeln (“to trampl... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “trample”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-R-A-M-P-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɹæmpəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “triple” - see the side-by-side comparison. trample vs triple
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list