wandering

1 of 3

adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

: characterized by aimless, slow, or pointless movement: such as

a

: that winds or meanders

a wandering course

b

: not keeping a rational or sensible course : vagrant

c

: nomadic

wandering tribes

d

of a plant : having long runners or tendrils

wandering

2 of 3

noun

1

: a going about from place to place

—often plural

2

: movement away from the proper, normal, or usual course or place

—often plural

wandering

3 of 3

present participle of wander

Synonyms of wandering

Adjective

• rambling

Examples of wandering in a Sentence

Adjective

your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme

a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

When the wandering pooch finally narrowed his territory, Packer set up a humane trap and spent several days and nights nearby, waiting for Anchovy Jack to take the bait. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

The first drink at five o’clock, the sting of a wandering eye, girls commiserating in the bathroom over their relationships, the loneliness, the escapism, the hope of rekindling a love that’s nearly burned out, and the wild fun of it all. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026

Noun

But rather than any of her contemporaries, one specific anecdote from Jensen’s school years seems like the most apt context for the measured wandering on Jazz dreams. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Our shopping editors have done the wandering for you and pulled the furniture deals worth acting on before midnight, with some marked down by more than 50%. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wandering

• wandering albatross
• wandering dude
• wandering eye

Rhymes for wandering

• laundering
• pondering
• squandering

Medical Definition

wandering

1 of 2 adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-də-riŋ 

: floating

a wandering spleen

wandering

2 of 2 noun

: movement of a tooth out of its normal position especially as a result of periodontal disease