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

The buzz of millions wandering around 'The City That Never Sleeps'.

From BBC

As we wander through her former neighbourhood streets in La Juárez, the memories come flooding back.

From BBC

Then it grows small again, a lonely keyboard wandering a broken chord as Bryant’s voiceover admits that his body can only play for so long.

From Los Angeles Times

Come nightfall, the eerie silence is often pierced by the woeful bleat of a wandering burro.

From Los Angeles Times

Unverified videos and images published by TMZ appear to show the rapper wandering the streets before the police altercation unfolded.

From BBC

Related Words

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