ramble
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner.
They rambled through the shops until closing time.
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to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.
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to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion.
The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.
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to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually followed byon ).
The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction
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(of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander
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(of plants) to grow in a random fashion
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(of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization
noun
Synonym Usage
See roam.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ramblesimple
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ramblessimple
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have rambledperfect
-
has rambledperfect
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am ramblingprogressive
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are ramblingprogressive
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is ramblingprogressive
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have been ramblingperfect progressive
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has been ramblingperfect progressive
Past
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rambledsimple
-
had rambledperfect
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was ramblingprogressive
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were ramblingprogressive
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had been ramblingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ramble
First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain
Explanation
You ramble when your talking or your walking goes on and on and on. And on. You’re in no hurry to make a point or get to your destination — if there is one at all. The word ramble comes from similar roots as roam. They both mean wander, but they’re often used a little differently. You might roam around on vacation to relax or find adventure. If you’re a shark, you roam the deep sea for food. On the other hand, if the person on the plane next to you chatters nervously and can’t stop, you wish they wouldn’t ramble on like that.
Vocabulary lists containing ramble
25 Ways of Walking
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Look Both Ways
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Wish
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In August 2025 respected football finance blogger Swiss Ramble placed Everton and Tottenham above Manchester United in his debt league.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
Meanwhile, Chris Cooper was eager to get back to what he was doing that morning in the Ramble: birding.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2023
It’s a tactic controversial among birders frustrated by unleashed dogs in The Ramble.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 16, 2023
Do we crowd into the park’s Ramble just to have a look?
From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2023
II In Mattie’s Ramble Inn, Jones poured a glassful of beer and sank his long teeth into the foam.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
