saunter

verb

saun·​ter ˈsȯn-tər How to pronounce saunter (audio)
ˈsän-
sauntered; sauntering; saunters
Synonyms of saunternext

intransitive verb

: to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner : stroll
sauntered slowly down the street
saunter noun
saunterer noun

Examples of saunter in a Sentence

They sauntered slowly down the street. He sauntered into the store.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indeed, the simple enough ad campaign — which sees Kidman saunter in from the rain to walk up and down the aisles of an empty theater, reciting some incredibly memorable dialogue — went out into the world and made its mark. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, Sara sauntered across campus in a swarm of girls, who delighted in practicing their English skills on her. Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026 Traditional camping lights that rely on PIR suffer from the same faults that annoy homeowners whose security lights blaze into action at two in the morning when a cat saunters past their garage. New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2026 The pointy toe and kitten heel give these booties an elegant shape while still being practical enough to saunter around the streets of Paris without needing to order an Uber to get to dinner. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for saunter

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle English santren to muse

First Known Use

circa 1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saunter was circa 1667

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Cite this Entry

“Saunter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saunter. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

saunter

verb
saun·​ter ˈsȯnt-ər How to pronounce saunter (audio)
ˈsänt-
: to walk along in an idle or leisurely manner : stroll
saunter noun
saunterer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on saunter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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