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 of wandering

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

Even a wandering horse, after all, still moves the caravan forward. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026

Stargazers looking to upgrade their gear should read our picks of the best telescopes and binoculars for exploring the night sky, while photographers should read our guide to imaging wandering comets, along with our roundups of the top cameras and lenses for astrophotography. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026

Noun

Barring some extreme change, this second period of faith will soon have lasted longer than my years of atheist wandering. —Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026

Walking tours and just plain wandering are available at nearly every stop, and many companies now make free bikes available for independent touring. —Kathy Boardman, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026

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