as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
he gads about town every Saturday, flirting and gossiping with various shopkeepers and locals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in peripatetic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gad (about)
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Simon is so reserved that even his live-in girlfriend (an egregiously underused Olivia Thirlby) has given up on him; Trevor is a kooky gadabout who’d be right at home trading druggy celebrity anecdotes with Oliver Putnam.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The wild career of David Johansen — New York Dolls frontman, punk gadabout, occasional actor, and Buster Poindexter portrayer — will be the focus of an upcoming documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Simon is so reserved that even his live-in girlfriend (an egregiously underused Olivia Thirlby) has given up on him; Trevor is a kooky gadabout who’d be right at home trading druggy celebrity anecdotes with Oliver Putnam.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gad (about)
Verb
-
There, buffalo roamed free within the ancient ruins of Magna Graecia in the low, alluvial plains just outside of Naples.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Tourists in national team shirts and officials and media members with credential lanyards around their necks are roaming around Bayside Marketplace.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
References to nomads of the Kazakh steppe and local symbolism abound in the label, as seen in the heavy glass bottles recalling nomads’ flasks and decorated with handmade pendants in the form of old coins engraved with the emblem of each fragrance.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
-
According to researcher Valery Kolchenko, head of the Kyrgyz contingent, while the city may have already been abandoned by then, the region’s population changed drastically following the earthquake, with medieval settlers being replaced by nomads.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Born Victoria Claflin in Homer, Ohio, Woodhull had a peripatetic childhood, working as a medium and faith healer alongside her younger sister Tennessee (Tennie) in her family’s traveling medicine show.—
Mindy Johnston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 May 2026
-
After detailing her peripatetic and idyllic childhood, which tracks her father’s career as an entomologist living in the Canadian backwoods for much of each year, Atwood reveals her journey into writing, along with the inspirations and setbacks encountered for each of her major books.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Periodically, Bhasin interrupted the sounds of birds, rain, and jungle life to offer encouraging words to his audience—a small group, nestled on mismatched sofas and chairs, and a couple who’d wandered in for some soup.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
On our lunch break, we were given time to wander Paris and observe the city through the lens of our story.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Designed to naturally decay over roughly a decade, these statues impress wanderers who seek them out.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
-
Angel was able to swap some Yokohama Geolandars over from his previous wanderer-spec ride, a Honda Element.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, people can save roughly $1,000 per surgery when procedures are performed at an ambulatory surgery center.—
Anthem Blue Cross California,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
-
Patients are now undergoing intricate brain and spine surgeries in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and returning home the same day.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Interpretive exhibits, wind in the oak forests and eagles drifting below reveal the site’s enduring significance, while rangers and tribal partners share how these mounds remain living heritage, not relics.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Hydrotherapy is the main draw and is especially helpful for active travelers or anyone managing chronic pain.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
While some travelers take the opportunity to go abroad for their summer vacation, there are plenty of options stateside—from national parks and beaches to buzzy cities and small towns.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gad (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gad%20%28about%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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