straggle

verb

strag·gle | \ˈstra-gəl

straggled; straggling\ ˈstra-g(ə-)liŋ

Definition of straggle

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

straggle

noun

Definition of straggle (Entry 2 of 2)

: a straggling group (as of persons or objects)

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Examples of straggle in a Sentence

Verb

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 on the Web: Verb

As the group approached, the shelter’s glass doors swung open and the migrants straggled through, some carrying kids who were too young to walk. — Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, "Texas border chaos: Courts, families, government collide in zero-tolerance debacle," 22 June 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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

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.