straggle

verb strag·gle \ ˈstra-gəl \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: straggle in a Sentence

Definition of straggle

straggled; straggling play \ˈstra-g(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to wander from the direct course or way : rove, stray

2 : to trail off from others of its kind

little cabins straggling off into the woods

—

straggler

play \ˈstra-g(ə-)lər\ noun

See straggle defined for English-language learners

See straggle defined for kids

Examples of straggle in a Sentence

The children straggled in from outside.
People straggled off the train.
She straggled behind the rest of the group.
Branches straggled out and blocked the path.

Recent Examples of straggle from the Web

The elevator opened to the lobby, where straggling gamblers and bachelor party attendees were greeted by the sight of Carlson carrying the Stanley Cup through the MGM casino.

— adam kilgore, chicagotribune.com, "What happened in Vegas: All night with the Capitals and the Stanley Cup," 8 June 2018
While lines stretched for over an hour, buses arrived in destination to Santa Clarita, with a few straggling behind in traffic for several hours.

— steven j. horowitz, Billboard, "Kanye West and Kid Cudi Debut 'Kids See Ghosts' Album in Santa Clarita," 8 June 2018
Longtime customers still straggle in for beer and alcoholic drinks, but now people come in droves from all over for good food.

— marilyn hagerty, Bon Appetit, "Marilyn Hagerty, of Viral Olive Garden Restaurant Review Fame, Reviews the Broken Drum in North Dakota," 6 June 2018
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in recent years along the straggling boundary, which stretches for about 1,200 miles.

— maria abi-habib and hari kumar, BostonGlobe.com, "India and Pakistan Agree to Truce on Kashmir Border," 30 May 2018
A few tourists and school groups straggle in during the week.

— paul schrader, New York Times, "Review: ‘First Reformed’ Is an Epiphany. Ethan Hawke Is, Too.," 17 May 2018
My first stop was Hawaii in early ’45, just as guys were straggling back from fierce battles on Iwo Jima.

— marc myers, WSJ, "Cartoonist George Booth and His Pet Projects," 8 May 2018
No one but a few straggling right-wingers seem concerned.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Will There Always Be an England?," 27 Apr. 2018
Many members straggled in days late, having been stranded and delayed by the snow.

— lillian cunningham, Washington Post, "The Constitutional podcast finale: ‘Ourselves and our posterity’," 12 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'straggle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of straggle

Middle English straglen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

straggle

noun

Definition of straggle

: a straggling group (as of persons or objects)

Recent Examples of straggle from the Web

The next spring the vine leafed out solidly and there, somewhere in the foliage, hung one thin straggle of purple flowers.

— murr brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, "Attack of the purple ‘bean trees’," 6 June 2018

First Known Use of straggle

1865

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STRAGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

straggle

verb

Definition of straggle for English Language Learners

: to walk slowly into or from a place in a way that is not continuous or organized
: to move away or spread out from others in a disorganized way

STRAGGLE Defined for Kids

straggle

verb strag·gle \ ˈstra-gəl \

Definition of straggle for Students

straggled; straggling

1 : to walk or move in a slow and disorderly way

The children finally straggled in from outside.

2 : to move away or spread out from others of the same kind

The cabins straggled into the woods.

—

straggler

\ˈstra-glər\ noun

Learn More about straggle

See words that rhyme with straggle Spanish Central: Translation of straggle Nglish: Translation of straggle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of straggle for Arabic speakers

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straggle

Definition of straggle

straggler

Examples of straggle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of straggle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of straggle

straggle

Definition of straggle

Recent Examples of straggle from the Web

First Known Use of straggle

STRAGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

straggle

Definition of straggle for English Language Learners

STRAGGLE Defined for Kids

straggle

Definition of straggle for Students

straggler

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