wander 1 of 2

verb

ˈwän-dər How to pronounce wander (audio)
Definition of wandernext
1
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to trespass
to commit an offense we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wander

2 of 2

noun

as in stroll
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure a wander through the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wander are meander, ramble, roam, rove, and traipse. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

When might meander be a better fit than wander?

The words meander and wander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When is ramble a more appropriate choice than wander?

The meanings of ramble and wander largely overlap; however, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for wander?

The words roam and wander can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of wander?

While in some cases nearly identical to wander, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

In what contexts can traipse take the place of wander?

The synonyms traipse and wander are sometimes interchangeable, but traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

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 wander
Verb
Breakfast hours are unlimited, a boon for late sleepers, who are welcome to wander to the terrace or dining room at their convenience. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 Ski resort guests get dangerously close to a large bear wandering around town A big bear was captured on video wandering through Whistler, a popular ski resort town in British Columbia, as bold hotel guests got extremely close to the creature. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2025 Use a center punch to keep your drill bit from wandering. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025 Recall the long delay in even coping with the wandering Chinese spy balloon that made its way across America in 2023, gathering intelligence for a week under Joe Biden before it was finally shot down. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
  1. roam
  2. trespass
  3. drift
  4. fall
  5. walk
  6. stroll
  7. stray
Verb
  • Those two have scheduled meet and greets, but other characters like The Invisible Man and Ygor roam throughout Dark Universe.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Also known as the Siberian tiger, the Amur tiger is the largest living cat in the world and primarily roams the Russian Far East, with a few straying into northeastern China.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • The lawsuit argued that the two oil companies were public nuisances, that their pollution was trespassing into the counties, and that their pollution violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
  • He was accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility.
    — Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • The student wasn’t hurt, but the boat started drifting.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • The film, so enjoyably wacky at first, deflates and drifts to a stop like one of its showboat cars running on empty.
    — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Definition of drift
Verb
  • More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.
    — Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Heat’s Adebayo falls short of NBA All-Defensive nod for first time in six seasons Chris Perkins: Can the Dolphins transform 100-yard rushing games into wins?
    — South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Definition of fall
Noun
  • In his past two games, at Boston and Friday against the Padres, Sale allowed nine hits and two runs and had 14 strikeouts with three walks in 14 innings.
    — David O'Brien, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • Bri Ellis drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but Binford struck out Day and Wyckoff to secure the victory.
    — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
Definition of walk
Verb
  • So, waders are people who just stroll through and say, ‘Oh, this is nice.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • In what has become a familiar sight on the Croisette, Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne strolled up the red carpet to present their new film to a welcoming crowd.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Meanwhile, those who don’t want to stray too far from Santa Cruz can find another fascinating community in the form of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Setbacks may tempt you to stray from your vision, but staying true to yourself attracts the right clients, collaborators and opportunities.
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

wan
wander
wandered
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Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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