saunter

[sawn-ter, sahn-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR saunter ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to walk with a leisurely gait; stroll: sauntering through the woods.

noun

a leisurely walk or ramble; stroll.

a leisurely gait.

Nearby words

Origin of saunter

First recorded in 1660–70; of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR saunter

1–3. amble, ramble, meander.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR saunter ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formssaun·ter·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for saunter

How often do you look up at the facades looming overhead as you saunter down the street?
The Royal Academy Wants You to Finish This Artwork|Chloë Ashby|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We are spared, thankfully, the standard liberal talisman of his saunter across the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The SEALs’ Big-Screen Moment|David A. Graham|September 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
So instead of marching into Starbucks for a morning cup of brew, saunter in for a big bowl of bud.
Criminalize Coffee, Not Cannabis|Robert Rosenthal|December 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I saw how hatefully the back wash seemed to saunter back to the fall along the banks.
Martin Hyde, The Duke's Messenger|John Masefield

I should not like to ask an indulgent and idle public to saunter about with me under a misapprehension.
Saunterings|Charles Dudley Warner
Billies eyes filled with indignant tears as she began slowly to saunter back to the old house.
The Motor Maids' School Days|Katherine Stokes
It has quite a charm to saunter round in a strange town, and mingle all unknown in the crowd.
A Flight in Spring|J. Harris Knowles
The truth is, you sat down and wrote; I used to saunter about and think what I should write.
Letters of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Vol. I (of 2)|Samuel Taylor Coleridge

British Dictionary definitions for saunter

saunter

verb (intr)

to walk in a casual manner; stroll

noun

a leisurely pace or stroll

a leisurely old-time dance

Derived Formssaunterer, noun

Word Origin for saunter

C17 (meaning: to wander aimlessly), C15 (to muse): of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for saunter

saunter

late 15c., santren "to muse, be in reverie," of uncertain origin despite many absurd speculations. Meaning "walk with a leisurely gait" is from 1660s, and may be a different word. Klein suggests this sense of the word derives via Anglo-French sauntrer (mid-14c.) from French s'aventurer "to take risks," but OED finds this "unlikely." Related: Sauntered; sauntering.

saunter

"a leisurely stroll," 1828, from saunter (v.). Earlier it meant "idle occupation, diversion" (1728).

saunter

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of saunter

Examples from the Web for saunter

saunter

verb (intr)

noun

Word Origin for saunter

saunter

saunter