roving

¹ American  

[roh-ving] / ˈroʊ vɪŋ /

adjective

1. roaming or wandering.

2. not assigned or restricted to any particular location, area, topic, etc..

   a roving editor.

3. not assigned to any particular diplomatic post but having a special mission.

   a roving ambassador.

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roving ² American  

[roh-ving] / ˈroʊ vɪŋ /

noun

1. a soft strand of fiber that has been twisted, attenuated, and freed of foreign matter preparatory to its conversion into yarn.

2. the final phase of carding, in which this is done.

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Other Word Forms

• rovingly adverb
• rovingness noun

Etymology

Origin of roving¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; rove ¹ + -ing ²

Origin of roving²

First recorded in 1785–95; rove ³ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

He is based in Europe but roving widely, working with bureau chiefs and reporters to catalyze our best reporting from the field.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Before his arrival, the federal deployment had been characterized by large groups of roving patrols, sweeping streets looking for people to arrest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Nine seasoned “spokesmodels” in electric-blue dresses sashayed around them in the hallway like roving disco balls.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

Undocumented families filled the street for a posada, a Latin American Christmas tradition akin to a roving block party, with music, food and an increasingly rare sense of safety.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

Then she’s past, dress swaying lightly, cane roving back and forth, and he watches her continue up the street until the fog swallows her.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• itinerant
• peripatetic
• wandering