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

I’m rambling, and my face is flushed, and I hope he can’t see it, but at the same time, I’m still leaning into the arm he has wrapped around me.

From Literature

I listen to myself ramble on and on, explaining why she and Nate are wrong, justifying things the way Dad trained me.

From Literature

Speaking to The Times of London, he said that radio pop in 2026 is one long ramble.

From Salon

But this rambling structure is also what gives “Marc by Sofia” its edge.

From Salon

They stay in a rambling Victorian house in the Garden District and record in a studio that’s haunted.

From Salon

Related Words

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