ramble

American  

[ram-buhl] / ˈræm bəl /

verb (used without object)

rambled, rambling

1. to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner.

   They rambled through the shops until closing time.

   Synonyms:

   straggle, stray, amble, saunter, stroll

2. to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.

3. to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion.

   The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.

4. to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually followed byon ).

   The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.

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verb (used with object)

rambled, rambling

1. to walk aimlessly or idly over or through.

   They spent the spring afternoon rambling woodland paths.

noun

1. a walk without a definite route, taken merely for pleasure.

ramble British  

/ ˈræmbəl /

verb

1. to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction

2. (of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander

3. (of plants) to grow in a random fashion

4. (of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization

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noun

1. a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside

Related Words

See roam.

Etymology

Origin of ramble

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Yet Keaton’s off-kilter taste—reflected elsewhere in her rambling dialogue delivery and outré fashion sense—is in evidence in her attraction to the strange personalities asked to ruminate on the hereafter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Also in the village, with lower prices, the June Lake Villager Motel is a rambling property beneath a vintage mid-century sign.

From Los Angeles Times

The AI punctuates, formats and adapts his rambling into coherent copy.

From Los Angeles Times

"The patient recounts their past in a rambling manner. There is some interpersonal difficulty stemming from the patient's weak-tempered nature, typical for their age."

From BBC

“Detective Webster said I need to be ready for another nighttime ramble. This time, Penelope, I expect you to stay put upstairs and observe from the safety of this room.”

From Literature

Related Words

• amble
• digress
• meander
• roam
• saunter
• straggle
• stroll
• traipse
• zigzag