v., -dered, -der·ing, -ders. v.intr.
- 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.
To wander across or through: wander the forests and fields.
n.
The act or an instance of wandering; a stroll.
[Middle English wanderen, from Old English wandrian.]
wanderer wan'der·er n.wanderingly wan'der·ing·ly adv.
SYNONYMS wander, ramble, roam, rove, range, meander, stray, gallivant, gad. 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.
