rambling
adjective
ram·bling
ˈram-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
: proceeding without a specific goal, purpose, or direction: such as
a
: wandering about from one place to another
a rambling walk
b
: straying from subject to subject
a rambling essay/discussion/discourse
a rambling talker
His text is at times repetitious and rambling.—
Robert Howard
Robert Howard
c
: stretching, spreading, or growing in a winding or irregular way
a rambling stream
rambling roses
2
: large and informally designed
a rambling farmhouse
… blue-tinged shots give the sinister prison … the air of a rambling edifice out of Dickens.—Celia Wren
Celia Wren
ramblingly
adverb
a ramblingly told story
Examples of rambling in a Sentence
I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who "Dorothy" and "the stepson" were
the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep
Recent Examples on the Web
Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Advertisement In a lengthy and rambling video posted on social media, C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams said he had initially been inclined to back out of the booking amid the backlash but is considering performing anyway out of spite toward those who criticized him for participating.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 29 May 2026
Pochettino, in a rambling answer about his central midfield options, seemed to suggest that Reyna could play in a deeper, more defensive position.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The California Military Academy spent a spectacular few of its early years, circa 1906, on the water at Santa Monica, leasing out the rambling Victorian pile that had once been the Arcadia Hotel.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Years ago, he was sent a rambling Thomas Pynchon novel.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Perhaps their usual style is to be rambling.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Despite this rambling semi-introduction, Newman’s film makes quick work of all of this, recognizing that getting to the Tova-and-Cameron show (with, of course, many guest appearances by Marcellus) is the entire point of the picture.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
Stroll the Riverwalk to the skylit Old Wilmington City Market and the rambling Cotton Exchange, a shopping and dining complex spread over several historic buildings.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Advertisement In a lengthy and rambling video posted on social media, C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams said he had initially been inclined to back out of the booking amid the backlash but is considering performing anyway out of spite toward those who criticized him for participating.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 29 May 2026
Pochettino, in a rambling answer about his central midfield options, seemed to suggest that Reyna could play in a deeper, more defensive position.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The California Military Academy spent a spectacular few of its early years, circa 1906, on the water at Santa Monica, leasing out the rambling Victorian pile that had once been the Arcadia Hotel.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Years ago, he was sent a rambling Thomas Pynchon novel.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Perhaps their usual style is to be rambling.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Despite this rambling semi-introduction, Newman’s film makes quick work of all of this, recognizing that getting to the Tova-and-Cameron show (with, of course, many guest appearances by Marcellus) is the entire point of the picture.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
Stroll the Riverwalk to the skylit Old Wilmington City Market and the rambling Cotton Exchange, a shopping and dining complex spread over several historic buildings.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rambling. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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