wander

[won-der]

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.

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

/ 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

noun

1. the act or an instance of wandering

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wander¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wander¹

Old English wandrian; related to Old Frisian wandria, Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanderen

Example Sentences

Inside this edition, Cranach's map presents the stations of the wilderness wanderings and the division of the Promised Land into twelve tribal regions.

Read more on Science Daily

In the play, two minor characters from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” bumble about, confused about their role in the prince’s drama, and wander into existential discussions about the search for meaning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On a perfect Sunday, I would wake up at 5 a.m., make myself some La Colombe coffee, and wander through my garden, which could be my grand masterpiece.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I learned to forage fungi in my 20s, wandering the woods of my home state, Pennsylvania, July through October, figuring out which were toxic and which were delicious.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Nevertheless, our compulsion to glean some broader significance from Carol’s story cannot help but wander into that territory.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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