wander

1 of 2

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal

b

: to go idly about : ramble

wandering around the house

2

: to follow a winding course : meander

3

a

: to go astray (as from a course) : stray

wandered away from the group

b

: to go astray morally : err

c

: to lose normal mental contact : stray in thought

his mind wandered

transitive verb

: to roam over

wandered the halls

wander noun

wanderer

ˈwän-dər-ər 

noun

wanderer

2 of 2

noun

wan·​der·​er -dərə(r) 

plural -s

: one that wanders: such as

a

capitalized : a Scottish Covenanter during the time of persecution

b(1)

: a brown and black American butterfly (Feniseca tarquinius) of the family Lycaenidae whose larva feeds on woolly aphids of the genus Schizoneura especially on the alder blight

also : a monarch or other butterfly of the genus Danaus

(2)

: wandering spider

Synonyms of wander

Verb

• roam
• drift
• stroll

Choose the Right Synonym for wander

wander, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander 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

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Examples of wander in a Sentence

Verb

I was just wandering around the house.

They wandered down the street.

Students were wandering the halls.

He wandered away from the trail and got lost.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

People and bears cross paths many thousands of times each summer, and the great majority of meetings end with the bear wandering off. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

And during those six months in the wilderness, my mind frequently wandered back to idyllic childhood days in her backyard — the smell of fresh mown grass and the music of wind chimes kissing my ears. —Brad Ryan, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026

Visitors should never wander through an office alone. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

Nearly a year ago, Estrella was found wandering alone on the streets of Denver without access to necessities, including fresh water. —Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wandren, from Old English wandrian; akin to Middle High German wandern to wander, Old English windan to wind, twist

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing wander

• go for a wander
• have/take a wander

Rhymes for wander

• condor
• fonder
• launder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• squander
• yonder
• responder
• transponder

Kids Definition

wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering -d(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to move about without a purpose

2

: to follow a winding course : meander

3

a

: to get off the right course : stray

wandered away

b

: to lose one's normal mental concentration

her mind wandered

wander noun

wanderer

-dər-ər 

noun