astray
Americanadverb
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out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route.
Despite specific instructions, they went astray and got lost.
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away from that which is right; into error, confusion, or undesirable action or thought.
They were led astray by their lust for money.
adjective
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out of the correct path or direction
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out of the right, good, or expected way; into error
Etymology
Origin of astray
1250–1300; Middle English astraye < Anglo-French *astraié, Old French estraié, past participle of estraier; see stray
Explanation
If you go astray, you lose the path. If you went to college intending to become a doctor, but instead became interested in making violent video games, your parents might feel you have gone astray. A stray animal is one that has gotten loose, and the adverb astray comes from this sense of wandering off from the proper place, even though it's not just for animals. If you go astray, you lose the right way, or are out of place. It can be a moral judgment: juvenile delinquents are kids who have gone astray. But it can also refer to small details. If you dress impeccably, you make sure that no thread is astray.
Vocabulary lists containing astray
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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.
Bordeaux full-back Rayasi was rampant in the opening quarter, demonstrated by a scything counter-attack before his loose pass went astray.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
They are decent people who have been led astray.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
MarketWatch: What investment advice do people give that leads others astray?
From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026
Defector Brooks Koepka skulked back to the PGA Tour, accepting penalties for going astray.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
Besides, when had his parents ever led him astray?
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
