stray
verb (used without object)
to deviate from the direct course, leave the proper place, or go beyond the proper limits, especially without a fixed course or purpose.
have strayed
-
present perfectof stray.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Wireless carriers and cable operators have strayed into each others’ territory in recent years, waging what analysts call “the battle for convergence.”
From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026
Some local and state law-enforcement leaders who have seen the agency’s tactics up close are voicing concerns that agents have strayed from the administration’s stated focus on public-safety threats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026
The AAUP’s own history illustrates how far interpretations of institutional neutrality have strayed from the phrase’s origins.
From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025
That means the whales have strayed from protected areas of ocean in search of food, leaving them vulnerable to ship strikes and entanglements.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2023
The oxen wouldn’t have strayed; oxen don’t wander when they’re attached to a heavy wagon.
From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
