roam

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

Synonyms of roam

• 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

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

Alzheimer’s disease can impair a person’s ability to recognize familiar places, and wandering can happen at any stage of the illness, though people in the moderate stages tend to be more likely to roam off. —Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026

Celebrity sales often occur in Bel Air or Malibu, where, in 2025, fans of the late singer Tom Petty were allowed to roam his Mediterranean-style estate, nabbing everything from bath towels to a casserole dish once used by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. —Zoey Goto, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026

The 41st race roamed from Dodger Stadium to Century City. —Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026

Elephants and forest buffalos roam the shores, while the area is renowned for its seasonal leatherback turtle sightings and brilliant bird life. —Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English romen

First Known Use

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