rambling

adjective

ram·​bling ˈram-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: proceeding without a specific goal, purpose, or direction: such as

a

: wandering about from one place to another

a rambling walk

b

: straying from subject to subject

a rambling essay/discussion/discourse

a rambling talker

His text is at times repetitious and rambling.

—Robert Howard

c

: stretching, spreading, or growing in a winding or irregular way

a rambling stream

rambling roses

2

: large and informally designed

a rambling farmhouse

… blue-tinged shots give the sinister prison … the air of a rambling edifice out of Dickens.

—Celia Wren

ramblingly adverb

a ramblingly told story

Synonyms

• wandering
• excursive
• indirect

Examples of rambling in a Sentence

I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who "Dorothy" and "the stepson" were

the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Check out the fragrant Kelleher Rose Garden and the rambling Fenway Victory Gardens, originally planted by citizens in 1941 as a source of food during World War II. —Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025

Trump touched on those issues as well in a rambling UN address that more closely resembled his campaign speech, filled with attacks and lists of achievements. —Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025

Boelter’s motivation remains unclear, but investigators found a one-and-a-half-page letter, described as rambling and difficult to read, that was ascribed to him. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025

Cristin Milioti’s therapy notes, Seth Rogen’s rambling delight, Owen Cooper’s halting honesty, all examples of presence that will outlast the highlight reels of gowns and jokes. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Bargatze’s bit is predicated on the fact that most awards show speeches are self-indulgent, rambling tributes to other celebrities, which is fine. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025

The final part is a rather rambling segment philosophizing on proof of the afterlife—in line with dozens of similar texts from this era of psychical research. —Alice Vernon september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025

The rambling rocks appear to travel across the sand on their own, leaving clear dirt trails in their wake. —Andrew Paul Aug 14, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025

There were also quirks unique to AI—such as getting derailed by ASCII art or lapsing into philosophical rambling during long tasks. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1