wander

[ won-der ]

verb (used without object)

1. to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; roam, rove, or stray:

   to wander over the earth.

   Synonyms: stroll, range

2. to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; meander:

   The river wanders among the rocks.

   Synonyms: saunter

3. to extend in an irregular course or direction:

   Foothills wandered off to the south.

4. to move, pass, or turn idly, as the hand or the eyes.
5. (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.

6. to stray from a path, place, companions, etc.:

   During the storm the ship wandered from its course.

   Synonyms: veer, swerve

7. to deviate in conduct, belief, etc.; err; go astray:

   Let me not wander from Thy Commandments.

8. to think or speak confusedly or incoherently.

   Synonyms: rave, ramble

9. (of a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment) to move about or walk in a seemingly aimless or random manner.

verb (used with object)

1. to travel about, on, or through:

   He wandered the streets.

noun

1. Mechanics. the drift of a gyroscope or a similar device.

wander

/ ˈwɒndə /

verb

1. also tr to move or travel about, in, or through (a place) without any definite purpose or destination
2. to proceed in an irregular course; meander
3. to go astray, as from a path or course
4. (of the mind, thoughts, etc) to lose concentration or direction
5. to think or speak incoherently or illogically

noun

1. the act or an instance of wandering

Derived Forms

• ˈwanderer, noun
• ˈwanderingly, adverb
• ˈwandering, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• wander·er noun
• outwander verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wander¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wandren, Old English wandrian “to wend repeatedly” (cognate with German wandern ), from wendan; wend

Word History and Origins

Origin of wander¹

Old English wandrian; related to Old Frisian wandria, Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanderen

Example Sentences

As Yellowstone bears increasingly wander outside the sanctuary of the park, they run an ever-greater risk of getting shot.

From The Daily Beast

Some kids are prone to letting their minds wander and daydreaming.

From The Daily Beast

Save for the clip of heels as visitors wander around the gallery, the venue is silent.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, I have to wander slightly off brief with my last two recommendations.

From The Daily Beast

One can even rent out the villa here or wander down from the Arc de Triomphe and peek through the fence.

From The Daily Beast

He allowed his mind to wander back into the past—back many years to the time when he had gone into the country to take a meal.

From Project Gutenberg

Of all the inhabitants of London chambers those are the most lonely who never wander away from London.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes Jehosophat's father opens the gate in the fence and lets the geese wander down to the pond.

From Project Gutenberg

Literally and figuratively, their lives seemed to wander through flowery pleasure-paths.

From Project Gutenberg

She appeared to wander in her mind, for sometimes her words were coherent, at other times she merely babbled.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amble
• cruise
• drift
• float
• hike
• meander
• ramble
• roam
• saunter
• straggle
• stray
• stroll
• traipse
• trek