definition wandering synonym

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adjective as in meandering

Strongest matches

Strong matches

adjective as in nomadic

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adjective as in itinerant

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Example sentences.

Later, information emerged that this sea lion is known for its wanderings.

This is counter-intuitive because spontaneous fluctuations and mind-wandering can also lead to depressive rumination and anxiety.

Similar to playing and dreaming is the wandering of our minds.

When psychologists do that, they find that mind-wandering is staggeringly frequent.

Mind-wandering is often considered a harmless quirk, as in the cliché of the scatter-brained professor.

Mr. Bachner found it by wandering through the market and identified a craftsmen here who works in a tiny booth.

And, in a gratuitous show of homicidal prowess, Moses kills two assassins he meets while wandering in the desert of Sinai.

After wandering at haphazard some little way I met a peasant in a sleigh.

He showed signs of a restless, wandering soul, someone searching for meaning around him.

I spotted American students wandering around London last week dressed in Stars and Stripes shorts and bikini tops.

She observed his pale looks, and the distracted wandering of his eyes; but she would not notice either.

This mode of learning promotes attention and prevents mind-wandering.

He paled a little, and sucked his lip, his eyes wandering to the girl, who stood in stolid inapprehension of what was being said.

John and Judas became the good and evil Wandering Jews of mediæval folklore.

He was relieved to learn that his grandson Moses Mole was not wandering about the garden, after all.

Related Words

Words related to wandering are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word wandering . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in different from that expected

• irregularity

adjective as in having no goal

• any which way
• bits and pieces
• directionless
• fits and starts
• hit-or-miss
• indiscriminate
• purposeless
• thoughtless
• unpredictable

adjective, adverb as in off the path or right direction

• off the mark

adjective as in having disordered thoughts and delusions

• flipped-out
• hallucinatory
• lightheaded
• off one's head
• out of one's head
• out of one's skull
• unreasonable

noun as in deviation from normal, expected

• branching off
• branching out
• declination
• latest thing
• new wrinkle

Viewing 5 / 60 related words

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On this page you'll find 93 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to wandering, such as: roving, winding, jaunting, roaming, strolling, and traveling.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Definition of wander

intransitive verb

transitive verb

• gad (about)
• galavant
• kick around
• knock (about)

wander , roam , ramble , rove , traipse , meander mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose.

wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

Examples of wander in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English wandren , from Old English wandrian ; akin to Middle High German wandern to wander, Old English windan to wind, twist

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing wander

• go for a wander
• have / take a wander

Articles Related to wander

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Dictionary Entries Near wander

wand bearer

Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wander. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of wander, more from merriam-webster on wander.

Nglish: Translation of wander for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wander for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of wandering in English

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wander verb ( MOVE AROUND )

• walk The baby has just learned to walk.
• stride She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager.
• march He marched right in to the office and demanded to see the governor.
• stroll We strolled along the beach.
• wander She wandered from room to room, not sure of what she was looking for.
• amble She ambled down the street, looking in shop windows.
• crawl There'd been a bad accident on the motorway and traffic was crawling.
• trundle Lorries trundle through the narrow lanes.
• creep He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise.
• trudge They trudged wearily through the snow.
• stroll We spent the afternoon strolling around Budapest.
• amble He ambled over to the window.
• Don't worry if you lose hold of the reins - the horse won't wander off.
• He wandered around, clearing up in a desultory way.
• We wandered along the shore , stepping over the flotsam that had washed up in the night .
• We wandered through the beautifully proportioned rooms of the Winter Palace.
• She was wandering around in a daze this morning .
• His eyes wandered over the posters adorning the walls .
• dumbwalking

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

wander verb ( SUBJECT )

• bury the lede idiom
• candy coating
• candy-coated
• circumlocution
• circumlocutory
• gloss over something
• go off on a tangent idiom
• mealy-mouthed
• prevaricate
• unexpressed

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• wander (MOVE AROUND)
• wander (SUBJECT)
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Definition of 'wandering'

wandering in American English

Examples of 'wandering' in a sentence wandering, related word partners wandering, trends of wandering.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically wandering

• wander the halls
• wander the streets
• wandering albatross
• wandering mind
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'W'

Related terms of wandering

• wandering Jew
• wandering minstrel
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a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground.

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More about petrichor.

• First recorded in 1960–65.
• Comes from petro -, a combining form meaning “rock,” and ichor , which in classical mythology means “ethereal fluid flowing in the veins of the gods.”
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EXAMPLES OF PETRICHOR

• The desert landscape was quickly transformed as petrichor filled the air after a long-awaited rainstorm.
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any of several salamanders that inhabit lakes and ponds of Mexico and remain in the larval stage as sexually mature adults.

Why Dictionary.com chose axolotl

More about axolotl.

• First recorded in English around 1780–90.
• Comes from the Nahuatl word āxōlōtl .
• The word āxōlōtl combines ā ( tl ), meaning “water” and xōlōtl , which means “page or attendant.”

EXAMPLES OF AXOLOTL

• Mexican lakes and ponds provide the perfect habitat for the axolotl to thrive in its unique larval form.
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to write poetry.

Why Dictionary.com chose poetize

More about poetize.

• First recorded in 1575–85.
• Formed from the word poet .
• Poet comes via the Middle English word poete  from Greek  poiētḗs , which meant, literally, “maker.”

EXAMPLES OF POETIZE

• As the sun set over the horizon, he felt inspired to poetize his feelings on paper.
• During her travels, she would poetize about the various cultures and landscapes she encountered.

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