astray
Americanadverb
-
out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route.
Despite specific instructions, they went astray and got lost.
-
away from that which is right; into error, confusion, or undesirable action or thought.
They were led astray by their lust for money.
adjective
-
out of the correct path or direction
-
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
Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Nobody's Home: Synonyms For "Absent"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Persepolis
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"Oversharing policy deliberations and overcommitting to future decisions can lead markets, businesses, and households astray," he said, adding it also inhibited the Fed the "freedom to make the right calls when it's time to decide".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
In these murmurs, Ullom wonders how much modern technology has led us astray.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
There was no Strava trace to show how I’d gone so astray.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
They are decent people who have been led astray.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
Quivering with the uncertainty of pioneers, dreading that they might have been led astray by some minuscule miscalculation, they wrote a short note for publication and hastened to Lawrence’s house for his approval.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
