Main Entry: wan·der

Pronunciation: \ˈwän-dər\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): wan·dered; wan·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

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

Date: before 12th century

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

— wan·der·er \-dər-ər\ noun

synonyms 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>.