astray

adverb or adjective \ ə-ˈstrā \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of astray

1 : off the right path or route : straying

2 : in error : away from what is proper or desirable

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Recent Examples of astray from the Web

Some expats maintain a U.S. address or give a power-of-attorney to a U.S. person to ensure that official mail doesn’t go astray.

— laura saunders, WSJ, "Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes," 6 July 2018
Someone notes that when things were going astray, who was going to call her on it?

— randy cordova, azcentral, "In revealing documentary 'Whitney,' a superstar's life unravels," 5 July 2018
Conservation director Emily Manderson thinks the bird might be a young male who wandered astray, looking for love.

— molly glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "The Houston Arboretum’s newest resident: An exotic peacock," 15 June 2018
And, after all, this should make some appeal to communists — for many of them are grown-up children who have temporarily wandered astray.

— john kelly, Washington Post, "May Day used to be a big deal in Washington. Could it ever be again?," 30 Apr. 2018
One in four Americans has failed a diet — because their partner led them astray, according to new research.

— zoya gervis, Fox News, "Your partner may be your biggest dieting enemy, study finds," 29 June 2018
In 2013 a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin successfully led astray an $80 million yacht in the Mediterranean, overpowering its GPS receivers and sending it onto a new course.

— garrett m. graff, WIRED, "The New Arms Race Threatening to Explode in Space," 26 June 2018
Stockmarket sticklers can similarly lead others astray.

— The Economist, "Most stockmarket returns come from a tiny fraction of shares," 23 June 2018
But there are also examples of great thinkers being led astray by math.

— dan falk /, NBC News, "Why some scientists say physics has gone off the rails," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'astray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of astray

Middle English, from Anglo-French estraié wandering, from estraier to stray — more at stray

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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astray Synonyms

ASTRAY Defined for English Language Learners

astray

adverb

Definition of astray for English Language Learners

: off the right path or route
: away from what is right, good, or desirable

ASTRAY Defined for Kids

astray

adverb or adjective \ ə-ˈstrā \

Definition of astray for Students

1 : off the right path or route

Our rocket went astray after liftoff.

2 : in or into error

Their plans have gone astray.

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See words that rhyme with astray Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for astray Spanish Central: Translation of astray Nglish: Translation of astray for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of astray for Arabic speakers

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astray

Definition of astray

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ASTRAY Defined for English Language Learners

astray

Definition of astray for English Language Learners

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astray

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