wanderlust

noun

wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst How to pronounce wanderlust (audio)
: strong longing for or impulse toward wandering

Did you know?

Wanderlust Has German Roots

"For my part," writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." Sounds like a case of wanderlust if we ever heard one. Those with wanderlust don't necessarily need to go anywhere in particular; they just don't care to stay in one spot. The etymology of wanderlust is a very simple one that you can probably figure out yourself. Wanderlust is a lust for wandering. The word comes from German, in which wandern means "to hike or roam about," and Lust means "pleasure or delight."

Examples of wanderlust in a Sentence

Wanderlust has led him to many different parts of the world.
Recent Examples on the Web Before long, Sasha, in his forlorn wanderlust, has split up with Zakhar and fallen in with a fellow-Bolshevik named Stepan Kopionkin. Benjamin Kunkel, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Travel has always been my North Star, and the anonymity of these wanderlust moments simply feels like a gentle, warm hug when the world closes in on you. Tenille Clarke, Essence, 21 Dec. 2023 Weekends are for indulging his wanderlust, hopping on a train or bus for a coastal or hilly hike in the foothills of the Pyrenees where Coe stays in cozy typical hostales. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024 This year, everyone has some mind-expanding magic to look forward to, as 2024's astrology brings some special cosmic alignments that will encourage us to expand our horizons, indulge our wanderlust, and enjoy life to the fullest. Nina Kahn, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2024 Once spring rolls around, you’ll be hit with a wave of wanderlust, so this is a fabulous year to expand your horizons and prioritize international travel. Nina Kahn, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2024 In high school there was a degree of wanderlust, albeit while also maintaining his strong family ties. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024 In addition to working with Zac on a handful of projects, Dylan has also amassed a big following on social media with his wanderlust posts. Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 Here the fine-art photographer turns his eye to beaches around the world—and you’ll be hit by wanderlust by the first page. Jake Smith, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wanderlust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from wandern to wander + Lust desire, pleasure

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wanderlust was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Wanderlust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wanderlust. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wanderlust

noun
wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst How to pronounce wanderlust (audio)
: strong longing to travel

More from Merriam-Webster on wanderlust

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