roam

[rohm]

verb (used without object)

1. to walk, go, or travel without a fixed purpose or direction; ramble; wander; rove.

   to roam about the world.

   Synonyms: prowl, stroll, stray

verb (used with object)

1. to wander over or through.

   to roam the countryside.

noun

1. an act or instance of roaming; a ramble.

roam

/ rəʊm /

verb

1. to travel or walk about with no fixed purpose or direction; wander

noun

1. the act of roaming

Other Word Forms

• roamer noun
• unroaming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of roam¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English romen origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of roam¹

C13: origin unknown

Synonym Study

Roam, ramble, range, rove imply wandering about over (usually) a considerable amount of territory. Roam implies a wandering or traveling over a large area, especially as prompted by restlessness or curiosity: to roam through a forest. Ramble implies pleasant, carefree moving about, walking with no specific purpose and for a limited distance: to ramble through fields near home. Range usually implies wandering over a more or less defined but extensive area in search of something: Cattle range over the plains. Rove sometimes implies wandering with specific incentive or aim, as an animal for prey: Bandits rove through these mountains.

Example Sentences

The freshly minted Grizzly pack is roaming southern Plumas County and consists of at least two adults and a pup, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported this week.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It’s just like those open-world video games we play. Except this one is a place where extinct animals roam and where people party. Like, for real.”

Read more on Literature

Much of this land was territory the panda traditionally roamed.

Read more on Literature

It contains much subtle humor, but the concluding set piece, with longhorns roaming the streets of Los Angeles and comedically terrifying its denizens, remains the movie’s high point.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The relaxed nature of the show gives honorees room to roam with their speeches and also offers current Oscar contenders a chance to schmooze with voters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drift 
• meander 
• prowl 
• ramble 
• saunter 
• stray 
• stroll 
• traipse 
• tramp 
• trek