wan·der
(wŏńdər)
[Middle English wanderen, from Old English wandrian.]
verb: -dered, -der·ing, -ders.
intransitive verb
- To move about without a definite destination or purpose.
- To go by an indirect route or at no set pace; amble: wander toward town.
- To proceed in an irregular course; meander.
- To go astray: wander from the path of righteousness.
- To lose clarity or coherence of thought or expression.
transitive verb
- To wander across or through: wander the forests and fields.
noun
- The act or an instance of wandering; a stroll.
derivatives
- wańder·er
- noun
- wańder·ing·ly
- adverb
synonyms:
wander, ramble, roam, rove1range, meander, stray, gallivant, gad1 These verbs mean to move about at random or without destination or purpose. Wander and ramble stress the absence of a fixed course or goal: wandered down the hall lost in thought. “They would go off together, rambling along the river” (John Galsworthy) Roam and rove emphasize freedom of movement, often over a wide area: “Herds of horses and cattle roamed at will over the plain” (George W. Cable) “For ten long years I roved about, living first in one capital, then another” (Charlotte Brontë) Range suggests wandering in all directions: “a large hunting party known to be ranging the prairie” (Francis Parkman) Meander suggests leisurely wandering over an irregular or winding course: “He meandered to and fro . . . observing the manners and customs of Hillport society” (Arnold Bennett) Stray refers to deviation from a proper course: “I ask pardon, I am straying from the question” (Oliver Goldsmith) Gallivant refers to wandering in search of pleasure: gallivanted all over the city during our visit. Gad suggests restlessness: gadded about unaccompanied in foreign places.
