rambled; rambling
ˈram-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to move aimlessly from place to place
rambled through the little town
b
: to explore idly
After one rambles through the maps for a time … some overall impressions begin to emerge.—
John Noble Wilford
John Noble Wilford2
a
: to talk or write in an aimless, erratic, and often long-winded fashion
The hunk starts to ramble on and on, and the women seem quite annoyed.—Monk Magazine
Monk Magazine
b
: to be related or written in a long-winded or wandering fashion
a story that rambles
3
: to grow or extend irregularly
To me, pea greens are the culinary equivalent of morning glories, sprouting overnight, rambling here and there, turning the grower into a shepherd, at least for the duration.—Molly O'Neill
Molly O'Neill
: to wander over : roam
1
: a leisurely excursion for pleasure
especially
: an aimless walk
2
: a rambling story or discussion
Synonyms
Examples of ramble in a Sentence
Verb
She rambled for several minutes before introducing the main speaker.
He's funny, but he tends to ramble.
Noun
We went for a ramble along the beach.
He encountered many interesting people in his rambles in the country.
The first chapter is a 100-page ramble.
We had to listen to another one of his long rambles about politics and religion.
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Recent Examples on the WebHeather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023
He is dismissed as a paranoiac, a coward, an abuser of his authority, and his raging, rambling testimony all but seems to confirm the truth of these allegations.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2023
In addition to discussing Envy during Tuesday’s livestream, Pina spent more than 20 minutes offering at-times rambling opinions on the entire situation.
—Bill Donahue, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2023
Davis has great affection for the rambling mother and her minuscule attentions.
—Jasmine Liu, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
Lee was responding to a Daily Mail article about a bizarre scene that unfolded during a rambling press conference following Biden’s landing in Vietnam.
—Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
Many of the raw materials come from the gardens of Corrigan’s rambling Virginia Park Estate in County Cavan.
—Aoife O'Riordain, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023
Running back Carson Steele, on fourth-and-1, rambled 13 yards off tackle for a score while barely touched.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
Trump is famous for his impromptu and incendiary pronouncements, whether through his rambling speeches or his social media tirades.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Laura Beausire, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2023
There are miles of urban treks, ranging from multi-day hiking trails like the 62-mile Great Coastal Walk that links the city’s southern and northern edges, to informal neighborhood rambles.
—Callie Radke Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023
Though they were not spotted during the royal ramble to Craithe Kirk on Sunday, the Duke and Duchess of York’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie reportedly arrived at Balmoral for the royal family’s annual retreat last week.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023
Walks Around the World Find inspiration for both urban rambles and long-distance pilgrimages.
—Russell Shorto, New York Times, 19 June 2023
Diane Bair For a really special ramble, wander the Morris Island Trails of 7,604-acre Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/refuge/monomoy).
—Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Her uncle said Ghost did this all the time — disappeared for a ramble out on the tundra for a week or two.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Apr. 2023
The ramble culminated with an unexpected reveal for fans of the franchise.
—Anousha Sakoui, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2023
Jamie Lorriman/Pool Photo via AP Prince William has poured a pint of ale and taken a ride on the subway with his wife Kate as part of a royal ramble in central London before King Charles III’s coronation.
—Sylvia Hui, Fortune, 4 May 2023
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Verb
The Week The Week The Editors The risks of nominating the elderly, rambling Biden for another four years have been obvious for a long time.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023
He is dismissed as a paranoiac, a coward, an abuser of his authority, and his raging, rambling testimony all but seems to confirm the truth of these allegations.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2023
In addition to discussing Envy during Tuesday’s livestream, Pina spent more than 20 minutes offering at-times rambling opinions on the entire situation.
—Bill Donahue, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2023
Davis has great affection for the rambling mother and her minuscule attentions.
—Jasmine Liu, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
Lee was responding to a Daily Mail article about a bizarre scene that unfolded during a rambling press conference following Biden’s landing in Vietnam.
—Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
Many of the raw materials come from the gardens of Corrigan’s rambling Virginia Park Estate in County Cavan.
—Aoife O'Riordain, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023
Running back Carson Steele, on fourth-and-1, rambled 13 yards off tackle for a score while barely touched.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
Trump is famous for his impromptu and incendiary pronouncements, whether through his rambling speeches or his social media tirades.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Noun
Nowadays, the trail offers a glorious roller-coaster ramble.
—Laura Beausire, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2023
There are miles of urban treks, ranging from multi-day hiking trails like the 62-mile Great Coastal Walk that links the city’s southern and northern edges, to informal neighborhood rambles.
—Callie Radke Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023
Though they were not spotted during the royal ramble to Craithe Kirk on Sunday, the Duke and Duchess of York’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie reportedly arrived at Balmoral for the royal family’s annual retreat last week.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023
Walks Around the World Find inspiration for both urban rambles and long-distance pilgrimages.
—Russell Shorto, New York Times, 19 June 2023
Diane Bair For a really special ramble, wander the Morris Island Trails of 7,604-acre Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/refuge/monomoy).
—Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Her uncle said Ghost did this all the time — disappeared for a ramble out on the tundra for a week or two.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Apr. 2023
The ramble culminated with an unexpected reveal for fans of the franchise.
—Anousha Sakoui, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2023
Jamie Lorriman/Pool Photo via AP Prince William has poured a pint of ale and taken a ride on the subway with his wife Kate as part of a royal ramble in central London before King Charles III’s coronation.
—Sylvia Hui, Fortune, 4 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ramble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, probably alteration of romblen, frequentative of romen to roam
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun
1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of ramble was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near ramble
Cite this Entry
“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ramble. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
ramble
2 of 2 noun1
: a long stroll with no particular destination
2
: a rambling story or discussion
More from Merriam-Webster on ramble
Nglish: Translation of ramble for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ramble for Arabic Speakers
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