me·an·der
mē-ˈan-dər 
1
: a winding path or course
the new path, which he supposed only to make a few meanders—
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
especially
: labyrinth
2
: a turn or winding of a stream
The meander eventually became isolated from the main stream.
meandered; meandering
mē-ˈan-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to follow a winding or intricate course
across the ceiling meandered a long crack—John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy2
: to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble
he meandered with the sightseers gawping at the boat people—John le Carré
John le Carré
Did you know?
Meander comes from Greek Maiandros, an old name for a winding river in Asia Minor that is now known as the Menderes. Despite this origin, the word is more commonly used to refer to a person's wandering course than a river's.
Synonyms
Examples of meander in a Sentence
Verb
The path meanders through the garden.
We meandered around the village.
The conversation meandered on for hours.
Recent Examples on the WebMark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Nearby attractions: For a stroll beneath the trees, meander through one of the city’s largest parks, Bosque Chapultepec.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Kayak or paddleboard on the Pamlico River, post up on a pier to reel in fresh and saltwater fish, and meander down the Palmetto Boardwalk and the nature trails of Goose Creek State Park (whose marshes and bogs were once preferred hiding spots for the pirate Blackbeard).
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
Afterward, take one last meander through Midtown, where shops and still more eateries await.
—Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The show offers a curatorial meander across the city, bringing together in dialogue—like commuters, flâneurs, or tourists—contemporary artists and canonical modern British artworks, alongside sculptural and figure-transforming fashion designs from Anderson’s eponymous label JW Anderson and Loewe.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023
The prints add another element: squares of color with internal patterns, through which the bending strips meander.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
While the various legal maneuvers proceed in the courts and the bureaucratic endeavors meander through City Hall, the old church remains a forlorn and empty structure next to a field, parking lot and groups of vehicles on the site.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Afterwards, meander over to Cocktail Kitchen to sip on happy hour specials while watching the Gap come to life from your seat on the balcony.
—Anna Haines, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2024
The property extends beyond the deer fencing, with pathways meandering among the wooded terrain and under the canopies of the oak trees.
—Monica Lander, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Kids played in the water that meandered down to the natural pool at the riparian zone's lowest point.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
The menu meanders through salads, sandwiches and quiches as well as some French classics, but the Joël Robuchon beef burger is also a hit, served with seriously good French fries.
—Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024
While meandering toward the museum’s mammal exhibition, a field trip chaperone recognizes him and asks for a selfie while praising the show and his character.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Similar to Omar’s Infinity House in Los Angeles, The Dragon has a double-height entryway accented by vertical wooden panels, but the darker, moodier exterior featuring matte-black metal panels, a box-gable roof, and a meandering layout sets it squarely apart.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Visitors can meander around the beach via nearby trails.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The oak trees dot the lovely campus of Oakridge, lining meandering pathways that lead the boys to their classrooms.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Water cascades over the curving edge of the mosaic-tiled swimming pool into a vast, shallow pool on the lower level, over which lily pad-like overlapping circles of concrete steppingstones meander over the surface to a sunken lounge with a fire pit at its circular center.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Nearby attractions: For a stroll beneath the trees, meander through one of the city’s largest parks, Bosque Chapultepec.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Kayak or paddleboard on the Pamlico River, post up on a pier to reel in fresh and saltwater fish, and meander down the Palmetto Boardwalk and the nature trails of Goose Creek State Park (whose marshes and bogs were once preferred hiding spots for the pirate Blackbeard).
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
Afterward, take one last meander through Midtown, where shops and still more eateries await.
—Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
The show offers a curatorial meander across the city, bringing together in dialogue—like commuters, flâneurs, or tourists—contemporary artists and canonical modern British artworks, alongside sculptural and figure-transforming fashion designs from Anderson’s eponymous label JW Anderson and Loewe.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023
The prints add another element: squares of color with internal patterns, through which the bending strips meander.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
While the various legal maneuvers proceed in the courts and the bureaucratic endeavors meander through City Hall, the old church remains a forlorn and empty structure next to a field, parking lot and groups of vehicles on the site.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Afterwards, meander over to Cocktail Kitchen to sip on happy hour specials while watching the Gap come to life from your seat on the balcony.
—Anna Haines, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Verb
In February, Belmond brought back the Eastern & Oriental Express for new journeys that will meander through Southeast Asia.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2024
The property extends beyond the deer fencing, with pathways meandering among the wooded terrain and under the canopies of the oak trees.
—Monica Lander, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Kids played in the water that meandered down to the natural pool at the riparian zone's lowest point.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
The menu meanders through salads, sandwiches and quiches as well as some French classics, but the Joël Robuchon beef burger is also a hit, served with seriously good French fries.
—Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024
While meandering toward the museum’s mammal exhibition, a field trip chaperone recognizes him and asks for a selfie while praising the show and his character.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Similar to Omar’s Infinity House in Los Angeles, The Dragon has a double-height entryway accented by vertical wooden panels, but the darker, moodier exterior featuring matte-black metal panels, a box-gable roof, and a meandering layout sets it squarely apart.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Visitors can meander around the beach via nearby trails.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The oak trees dot the lovely campus of Oakridge, lining meandering pathways that lead the boys to their classrooms.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near meander
Cite this Entry
“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meander. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meander
1 of 2 noun
me·an·der
mē-ˈan-dər
1
: a turn or winding of a stream
2
: a winding path or course
meander
2 of 2 verb
meandered; meandering
-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to follow a winding or complicated course
2
: to wander without a goal or purpose
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