roam

1 of 2

verb

ˈrōm 

roamed; roaming; roams

intransitive verb

1

: to go from place to place without purpose or direction : wander

roamed about, enjoying the scenery

2

: to travel purposefully unhindered through a wide area

cattle roaming in search of water

3

: to use a cellular phone outside one's local calling area

roaming charges

transitive verb

: to range or wander over

spent the day roaming the hills

roam noun

roamer noun

roamer

2 of 2

noun

roam·​er

ˈrōmə(r)

plural -s

: one that roams

Synonyms of roam

Verb

• wander

Choose the Right Synonym for roam

wander, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose.

wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Examples of roam in a Sentence

Verb

The cattle roamed in search of water.

Goats roam free on the mountain.

He roamed about in search of work.

The chickens are able to roam around freely in the farmyard.

We roamed around town for a while before dinner.

She liked to roam through the woods.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

First, not all carts are created equal; technical specifications mean some fall under existing rules while others can roam freely. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

One aspect of Eloise’s personality that her parents and brother treasure the most is her connection with animals, from family pets to the deer and horses roaming on the ranch. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

For nearly a hundred years, mule deer have roamed across the scenic but fragile ecosystem of Catalina Island in Southern California, ultimately becoming an ecological fixture and tourist attraction for folks who visit from the mainland. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

With the long-term future of Julian Alvarez uncertain, Lee has played the bustling, roaming centre-forward role in his last two games. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English romen

Noun

Middle English romere, from romen to roam + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing roam

• his/her/my eyes roam

Rhymes for roam

• brome
• chrome
• comb
• combe
• crome
• dome
• foam
• gnome
• holm
• loam
• tome
• acrosome

Kids Definition

roam

verb

ˈrōm 

1

: to go or go over from place to place without a plan

roam the hills

cattle roaming in search of water

2

: to use a cell phone outside one's local calling area

roamer noun