wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər How to pronounce wander (audio)
wandered; wandering ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce wander (audio)
Synonyms of wander

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 How to pronounce wander (audio)
noun

Synonyms of wander

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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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before catching an afternoon game, grab some breakfast and take your time wandering through animal exhibits before heading to the stadium. — Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026 In mountain communities like Crestline, where bears regularly roam neighborhoods in search of food, encounters with people are not uncommon, though one wandering into an office building is considerably more unusual. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of more than twenty-five books on feminism, western and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 Stuck together, wandering through thick green woods for days, the conversation between Sam and Paul drifts in an increasingly disturbing direction. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wander

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wander was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing wander

Rhymes for wander

See All Rhymes for wander

Browse Nearby Words

wand bearer
wander
wanderer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wander. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wander

verb
wan·​der ˈwän-dər How to pronounce wander (audio)
wandered; wandering -d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce wander (audio)
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 How to pronounce wander (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wander

Nglish: Translation of wander for Spanish Speakers

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