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
The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 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
Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This dainty mix makes for a rambling container that's easy to enjoy.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
The four leads are overconfident and loutish, spending their time drinking, rambling, and clumsily working through their worries about the future.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 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
Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This dainty mix makes for a rambling container that's easy to enjoy.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
The four leads are overconfident and loutish, spending their time drinking, rambling, and clumsily working through their worries about the future.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rambling. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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