wander

American  

[won-der] / ˈwɒn dər /

verb (used without object)

1. to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; roam, rove, or stray.

   to wander over the earth.

   Synonyms:

   stroll, range

2. to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; meander.

   The river wanders among the rocks.

   Synonyms:

   saunter

3. to extend in an irregular course or direction.

   Foothills wandered off to the south.

4. to move, pass, or turn idly, as the hand or the eyes.

5. (of the mind, thoughts, desires, etc.) to take one direction or another without conscious intent or control.

   His attention wandered as the speaker droned on.

6. to stray from a path, place, companions, etc..

   During the storm the ship wandered from its course.

   Synonyms:

   veer, swerve

7. to deviate in conduct, belief, etc.; err; go astray.

   Let me not wander from Thy Commandments.

8. to think or speak confusedly or incoherently.

   Synonyms:

   rave, ramble

9. (of a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment) to move about or walk in a seemingly aimless or random manner.

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verb (used with object)

1. to travel about, on, or through.

   He wandered the streets.

noun

1. Mechanics. the drift of a gyroscope or a similar device.

wander British  

/ ˈwɒndə /

verb

1. (also tr) to move or travel about, in, or through (a place) without any definite purpose or destination

2. to proceed in an irregular course; meander

3. to go astray, as from a path or course

4. (of the mind, thoughts, etc) to lose concentration or direction

5. to think or speak incoherently or illogically

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wandering

Other Word Forms

• outwander verb (used with object)
• wanderer noun
• wandering adjective
• wanderingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of wander

First recorded before 900; Middle English wandren, Old English wandrian “to wend repeatedly” (cognate with German wandern ), from wendan; wend

Example Sentences

My mind wanders like this sometimes when I’m knitting.

From Literature

For a while we wander along unfamiliar streets, hearing words in Neapolitan, a language we can almost understand.

From Literature

“They don’t like that—us wandering off on our own.”

From Literature

But as darkness falls after a long day of wandering in the rain, the cat eagerly waits for her owner to walk through the door.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Nanuq must have wandered into Boomer Bear’s yard, and he’s telling him to get off his lawn,” said Owen.

From Literature

Related Words

• amble
• cruise
• drift
• float
• hike
• meander
• ramble
• roam
• saunter
• straggle
• stray
• stroll
• traipse
• trek