straggle

American  

[strag-uhl] / ˈstræg əl /

verb (used without object)

straggled, straggling

1. to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals.

   The trees straggle over the countryside.

2. to lag behind others.

   Some organizations have caught on to this concept, but others are straggling behind.

3. to stray from the road, course, or line of march.

4. to wander about in a scattered fashion; ramble.

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straggle British  

/ ˈstræɡəl /

verb

1. to go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; stray

2. to linger behind or wander from a main line or part

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Other Word Forms

• straggler noun
• straggling adjective
• stragglingly adverb
• straggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of straggle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin, perhaps a variant of strackle (unrecorded), frequentative of obsolete strake “to go, move” ( -le ( def. ) ); stagger ( def. )

Example Sentences

The youngest, the straggling teenaged Låke, was born off the grid and has no identity, legally speaking.

From Los Angeles Times

This time around he follows straggling young people in Peru, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka, first separately until the geographical distance between them collapses and their timelines overlap.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Foldi, the conservative journalist and Rogan super fan, says the attention that Trump will get from this podcast could help him dominate the closing days of the campaign and win over straggling undecided voters.

From BBC

Meanwhile, this country’s now 22-year-old war on terror straggles on in its own devastating fashion, with threats of worse to come in plain sight.

From Salon

Campaigns have normally pushed for it, allowing them to lock in votes early and focus their efforts on Election Day to encourage straggling supporters to get to the polls.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• dawdle
• meander
• ramble