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

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

ramblingly adverb

a ramblingly told story

Synonyms of rambling

• wandering
• excursive
• indirect

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

But the documentary, to a fault, mirrors the Deadheads’ rambling aura and general absence of structure. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 July 2026

The rambling title track is another thoughtful tribute, paying homage to the female warriors that tend bar while often experiencing hell. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 16 July 2026

Plant Rambling Vines Another way to make the most of your landscape is by planting lovely rambling vines. — Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

Honeysuckle The warm, heady, floral scent of honeysuckle, which is strongest at dusk, is instantly recognizable, and the romantically rambling vines and tubular blooms make the climbing varieties cottage-garden classics. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1