ramble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ramblenext
1
as in excursion
a short trip for pleasure the couple's weekend rambles up and down the valley in search of interesting antiques

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in stroll
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure our usual practice is to take a ramble around the neighborhood after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

ramble

2 of 2

verb

ˈram-bəl How to pronounce ramble (audio)
1
as in to rattle
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly by tirelessly rambling around San Francisco for a week we probably saw more of it than many residents ever have

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to stroll
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ramble contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ramble are meander, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When could meander be used to replace ramble?

In some situations, the words meander and ramble are roughly equivalent. However, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might roam be a better fit than ramble?

While the synonyms roam and ramble are close in meaning, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When is it sensible to use rove instead of ramble?

Although the words rove and ramble have much in common, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than ramble?

The words traipse and ramble are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Where would wander be a reasonable alternative to ramble?

The synonyms wander and ramble are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ramble
Noun
There are daily rambles along classic trails each day, against a backdrop of pinnacles, and glaciers. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 And the Rams had to deal with two of those soul-crushing rambles. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
Sanchez quit school in 1969 at age 15, thumbed his way from Kansas City to Woodstock, got tear-gassed at anti-war rallies, rambled up to Canada to drop acid with draft dodgers. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025 Over the course of one disastrous Thanksgiving, Mona gets very high indeed and, little dog in tow, walks out on hosting her in-laws to ramble across Manhattan, trying to get Milton out of her head and also work out the mystery of why her hair currently looks so good. —Constance Grady, Vox, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ramble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramble
  1. excursion
  2. rattle
  3. wander
  4. stroll
  5. jaunt
  6. walk
  7. roam
  8. saunter
Noun
  • What often separates an experience filled with unforgettable memories from a White Lotus meltdown, however, comes down to one thing, experts say: setting the right expectations during and throughout your excursion.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Since outdoor excursions require some extra preparation, a Pteromy 150-piece First Aid Kit is a smart addition to any packing list, while the Blavor Solar Charger Power Bank ensures your devices stay charged, even off the grid.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of excursion
Verb
  • Read More: Detentions of Tourists and Visa-Holders Fuel Anxiety About Travel to U.S. Neighbors said they were left rattled by the arrest, which played out at 5:30 p.m. on a residential block.
    — JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Shifting government policies are adversely impacting business, rattling financial markets, and disrupting supply chains.
    — Mark A. Cohen, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of rattle
Verb
  • On Monday night, a glittering crowd stepped out to celebrate the store’s opening, before heading over to Palazzo Serbelloni to wander through its halls and take in the homewares collection.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • That means that future missions to Titan will have a rough time tracking down any solitary microbes that might be wandering about.
    — David Szondy, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of wander
Verb
  • Spend an afternoon strolling around downtown’s Market Square and enjoying the ample greenspace at World’s Fair Park.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Bravo’s comments about Woodley come after the pair were first spotted strolling in Paris together last month.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of stroll
Noun
  • The new street name replaces 2000 N. 59th St., just a short jaunt away from Overbrook High School, from which Smith graduated in 1986.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Related Articles Weekend getaway: A Seattle jaunt takes in the new Ocean Pavilion, waterfront park and more Other worthy stops on the Rogue Food Trail include the Applegate River Lavender Farm near Jacksonville and the English Lavender Farm in Applegate Valley.
    — Ben Davidson, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of jaunt
Noun
  • Trevor Smith Granite Hills | Baseball Smith reached base nine times in three Lions Tournament games, finishing with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and five walks.
    — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Sure, no zombie show is exactly a walk in the park, but watching The Last of Us is an especially draining experience, pairing abrupt graphic violence with a suffocatingly bleak worldview.
    — Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of walk
Verb
  • According to the American Emu Association, the birds — which are native to Australia — are often considered livestock, and it's usually recommended that owners have at least one acre of land for the bird to roam.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Fewer crowds, more room to roam, and a slower, sweeter pace—this is Pismo Beach as it was meant to be experienced. Pismo Beach on a Tuesday?
    — Cliff Lewis, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • From there, a large portion of that audience sauntered a block away on South First Street to party at the Pete Be Center, a yet-to-open venue for live music that looks ready to go (and is an entire transformation of when the space was Uproar Brewery a few years back).
    — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Kenny Chesney takes over the Sphere stage in May after Dead & Company's run is over and the Backstreet Boys saunter in come July. U2: Band's Sphere concert film is staggeringly lifelike.
    — Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of saunter

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramble. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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