wander
- to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; roam, rove, or stray: to wander over the earth.
- to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; meander: The river wanders among the rocks.
- to extend in an irregular course or direction: Foothills wandered off to the south.
- to move, pass, or turn idly, as the hand or the eyes.
- (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.
- to stray from a path, place, companions, etc.: During the storm the ship wandered from its course.
- to deviate in conduct, belief, etc.; err; go astray: Let me not wander from Thy Commandments.
- to think or speak confusedly or incoherently.
- (of a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment) to move about or walk in a seemingly aimless or random manner.
- to travel about, on, or through: He wandered the streets.
- Mechanics. the drift of a gyroscope or a similar device.
Origin of wander
Synonyms for wander
Related Words for wandered
trek, traipse, ramble, stray, cruise, hike, float, drift, roam, straggle, meander, amble, saunter, stroll, veer, gad, gallivant, trail, deviate, peregrinateExamples from the Web for wandered
Contemporary Examples of wandered
They initially saw no traffic at all as they came to Canfield Drive, and they wandered into the middle of the street.
The words that changed everything came after his wife had wandered off to photograph a collapsed building.
They had wandered up and down, unable to deliver themselves of their parcel.
I wandered around aimlessly for a while, then gave the goose to an acquiescent hippy on a barge.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto MuehlAnthony Haden-Guest
September 22, 2014
He wandered into Fountain City, a suburb of Knoxville, where he fended for himself.
Historical Examples of wandered
"You have wandered long in the wilderness," continued the minister.
Austin, with a smile on his lips, wandered out into the sunshine in search of Viviette.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
With his bag in hand, he wandered through the streets, uncertain what to do or where to go.
Life in LondonEdwin Hodder
At length as they wandered they came to a part where seemed to be only small houses and mews.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Then she drew a long breath, put out her candle, and wandered to the door.
Meadow GrassAlice Brown
wander
- (also tr) to move or travel about, in, or through (a place) without any definite purpose or destination
- to proceed in an irregular course; meander
- to go astray, as from a path or course
- (of the mind, thoughts, etc) to lose concentration or direction
- to think or speak incoherently or illogically
- the act or an instance of wandering
Word Origin for wander
Word Origin and History for wandered
wander
Old English wandrian "move about aimlessly, wander," from West Germanic *wandrojan (cf. Old Frisian wondria, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wanderen, German wandern "to wander," a variant form of the root represented in Old High German wantalon "to walk, wander"), from root *wend- "to turn" (see wind (v.)). In reference to the mind, affections, etc., attested from c.1400. Related: Wandered; wandering. The Wandering Jew of Christian legend first mentioned 13c. (cf. French le juif errant, German der ewige Jude).