wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

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 

noun

Synonyms of wander

• roam
• drift
• stroll

Choose the Right Synonym for wander

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

This is largely because about half of autistic children have a tendency to wander away from safe environments. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026

And if an enclosure isn't tightly secured, your chickens will escape and wander off without any regards for property lines. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026

After all, the best way to experience Paris is on foot, and these timeless flats were the perfect companion for a full day of wandering my favorite city. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 30 June 2026

Like a modern Odysseus, they are beset by fate to wander and suffer, but the gods will always intercede to help them out with a convenient flood or unlikely coincidence. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

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

Phrases Containing wander

• go for a wander
• have/take a wander

Rhymes for wander

• condor
• fonder
• launder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• squander
• yonder
• responder
• transponder

Kids Definition

wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering -d(ə-)riŋ 

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 

noun