- present participle of meander.
meandering
Americanadjective
-
taking a winding or indirect course.
The city of Budapest is divided into two parts by the meandering Danube River, spanned by several stunning bridges.
-
wandering aimlessly; proceeding seemingly without direction; rambling.
I'm unsure how I will condense a meandering narrative of my experiences into a thirty-second elevator pitch.
Things proceed in a meandering way between them, until suddenly their relationship comes to a devastatingly emotional climax.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meandering
First recorded in 1610–20; meander ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; meander ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun sense
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.
Then there is the foreground, filled with plush growth, a meandering rivulet and—in the left-hand corner, in contrast to the natural wonders above—a man-made carved Meso-American stone pillar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
“A resort-style pool, tranquil lily ponds, meandering pathways, shaded terraces, and a full-size tennis court create moments of both recreation and quiet reflection, where the sounds of nature replace the pace of everyday life.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
After a campaign over hundreds of years saw rivers tamed for commercial use, he urged a shift back "toward natural rivers featuring meandering branches and floodplains that retain water across the landscape".
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Aged 10, he was introduced to the idea of spending several days on a narrowboat meandering through the countryside at a top speed of 4mph.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
There were no confusing, meandering statements with him.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
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