ramble

[ ram-buhl ]

verb (used without object)

, ram·bled, ram·bling.

1. to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner:

   They rambled through the shops until closing time.

   Synonyms: straggle, stray, amble, saunter, stroll

2. to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.
3. to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion:

   The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.

4. to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually followed by on ):

   The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.

verb (used with object)

, ram·bled, ram·bling.

1. to walk aimlessly or idly over or through:

   They spent the spring afternoon rambling woodland paths.

noun

1. a walk without a definite route, taken merely for pleasure.

ramble

/ ˈræmbəl /

verb

1. to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction
2. (of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander
3. (of plants) to grow in a random fashion
4. (of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization

noun

1. a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramble¹

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramble¹

C17: probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen to roam (of animals); see ram

Synonym Study

See roam.

Example Sentences

So he started alone for a ramble among the Channel Islands, and I went back to Paris.

From The Daily Beast

Miss Utah's Incoherent Ramble She tried her best, she really did!

From The Daily Beast

Infected honeybees that should be sleeping at night instead ramble out into the darkness, where their fate is sealed.

From The Daily Beast

Also, he didn't ramble on about what he'd been up to in his state capital, as Christie did.

From The Daily Beast

Now, the judges, while passionate as always, seem to have more time than ever to ramble.

From The Daily Beast

However, I returned well pleased from my ride, and found my young sportsmen not less pleased with their morning's ramble.

From Project Gutenberg

The moon was up long before we returned from our ramble, and long before our host arrived.

From Project Gutenberg

Ruth found Mr Bellingham was not yet come down; so she sallied out for an additional half-hour's ramble.

From Project Gutenberg

She covered him with her shawl, which she had thrown over a chair on coming in from their twilight ramble.

From Project Gutenberg

After having finished their meal, Mr. George and Rollo set out to take a ramble about the town by themselves.

From Project Gutenberg