wander
to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; roam, rove, or stray: to wander over the earth.
to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; meander: The river wanders among the rocks.
to extend in an irregular course or direction: Foothills wandered off to the south.
to move, pass, or turn idly, as the hand or the eyes.
(of the mind, thoughts, desires, etc.) to take one direction or another without conscious intent or control: His attention wandered as the speaker droned on.
to stray from a path, place, companions, etc.: During the storm the ship wandered from its course.
to deviate in conduct, belief, etc.; err; go astray: Let me not wander from Thy Commandments.
to think or speak confusedly or incoherently.
(of a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment) to move about or walk in a seemingly aimless or random manner.
to travel about, on, or through: He wandered the streets.
Mechanics. the drift of a gyroscope or a similar device.
Origin of wander
1Other words for wander
Other words from wander
- wan·der·er, noun
- outwander, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wander in a sentence
They initially saw no traffic at all as they came to Canfield Drive, and they wandered into the middle of the street.
90 Seconds of Fury in Ferguson Are the Key to Making Peace in America | Michael Daly | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe words that changed everything came after his wife had wandered off to photograph a collapsed building.
They had wandered up and down, unable to deliver themselves of their parcel.
I wandered around aimlessly for a while, then gave the goose to an acquiescent hippy on a barge.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto Muehl | Anthony Haden-Guest | September 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe wandered into Fountain City, a suburb of Knoxville, where he fended for himself.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life | Paul Hemphill | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Absently his hands wandered through the pockets, and found his purse and the money in an outside pocket.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxHer glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf, whose sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative entreaty.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinHe gave little heed to the play; his thoughts were elsewhere, and, while they rambled, his eyes wandered round the house.
Confidence | Henry JamesAnd then, her mind wandered away to her mother; and she wondered why she should stand between her and her marriage with Gilbert.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieOn hearing him her eyes wandered toward where he stood, and regarded him keenly for a moment.
The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
British Dictionary definitions for wander
/ (ˈwɒndə) /
(also tr) to move or travel about, in, or through (a place) without any definite purpose or destination
to proceed in an irregular course; meander
to go astray, as from a path or course
(of the mind, thoughts, etc) to lose concentration or direction
to think or speak incoherently or illogically
the act or an instance of wandering
Origin of wander
1Derived forms of wander
- wanderer, noun
- wandering, adjective, noun
- wanderingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse