amble

[am-buhl]

verb (used without object)

ambled, ambling 

1. to go at a slow, easy pace; stroll; saunter.

   He ambled around the town.

   Synonyms: meander, ramble

2. (of a horse) to go at a slow pace with the legs moving in lateral pairs and usually having a four-beat rhythm.

noun

1. an ambling gait.

2. a slow, easy walk or gentle pace.

3. a stroll.

amble

/ ˈæmbəl /

verb

1. to walk at a leisurely relaxed pace

2. (of a horse) to move slowly, lifting both legs on one side together

3. to ride a horse at an amble or leisurely pace

noun

1. a leisurely motion in walking

2. a leisurely walk

3. the ambling gait of a horse

Other Word Forms

• ambler noun
• amblingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of amble¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French ambler < Latin ambulāre to walk, equivalent to amb- ambi- + -ulāre to step ( *-el- + stem vowel -ā-; cognate with Welsh el- may go, Greek elaúnein to set in motion)

Word History and Origins

Origin of amble¹

C14: from Old French ambler, from Latin ambulāre to walk

Example Sentences

One day after the government shutdown ended , a ranger ambled down a trail in Joshua Tree National Park, bathed in golden light.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He ambled, he strolled, he sauntered, and seemed in no rush to get to his destination.

Read more on Literature

He ambled to the kitchen and picked up the phone.

Read more on Literature

As he ambled toward the woods, West yelled “Hey bear, get out of here bear, go!” and fired powder balls from a paintball gun at him.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

After just three minutes, the towering Josh Lord ambled through a huge gap in a ruck before nonchalantly popping the ball off to scampering scrum-half Roigard.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• drift 
• loiter 
• meander 
• mosey 
• ramble 
• sashay 
• saunter 
• stroll 
• toddle 
• wander