wandering

1 of 2

adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

: characterized by aimless, slow, or pointless movement: such as

a

: that winds or meanders

a wandering course

b

: not keeping a rational or sensible course : vagrant

c

: nomadic

wandering tribes

d

of a plant : having long runners or tendrils

wandering

2 of 2

noun

1

: a going about from place to place

—often used in plural

2

: movement away from the proper, normal, or usual course or place

—often used in plural

Synonyms

Adjective

• rambling

Examples of wandering in a Sentence

Adjective

your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme

a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For starters, this confirms once and for all that Antetokounmpo — at 30 years old, four years removed from his lone title and with two seasons left on his deal — has a wandering eye. —Sam Amick, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

While the unfinished project remains ambiguous, the viewer catches glimpses of what the plot might have been about, where Jiang's character has grown from a wandering youth to a wealthy entrepreneur. —Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025

Noun

While the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 might have been regarded as an end to the wandering, some there are now questioning whether the Jewish homeland is the best place for them. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025

But that session with his squad was disrupted by the 50-year-old wandering in and out of the room. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wandering

• wandering albatross
• wandering dude
• wandering eye

Rhymes for wandering

• laundering
• pondering
• squandering

Medical Definition

wandering

1 of 2 adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-də-riŋ 

: floating

a wandering spleen

wandering

2 of 2 noun

: movement of a tooth out of its normal position especially as a result of periodontal disease