ramble

[ram-buhl]

verb (used without object)

rambled, rambling 

1. to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner.

   They rambled through the shops until closing time.

   Synonyms: straggle, stray, amble, saunter, stroll

2. to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.

3. to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion.

   The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.

4. to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually followed byon ).

   The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.

verb (used with object)

rambled, rambling 

1. to walk aimlessly or idly over or through.

   They spent the spring afternoon rambling woodland paths.

noun

1. a walk without a definite route, taken merely for pleasure.

ramble

/ ˈræmbəl /

verb

1. to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction

2. (of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander

3. (of plants) to grow in a random fashion

4. (of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization

noun

1. a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramble¹

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramble¹

C17: probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen to _roam (of animals); see _ram

Synonym Study

See roam.

Example Sentences

It’ll finally have the rambling, meticulously restored historic venue of its dreams opening this fall.

From Los Angeles Times

As they waited for her husband to return, the masked man rambled about himself.

From Los Angeles Times

By pathologizing without a plan of action, “Eddington” is as effective as an influencer’s Instagram carousel with 10 rambling slides about “everything going on right now.”

From Salon

Johnson rambled in his video about his weight, the stakes of this would-be battle and the “real tension” he has with Rogan.

From Los Angeles Times

Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amble 
• digress 
• meander 
• roam 
• saunter 
• straggle 
• stroll 
• traipse 
• zigzag