wandering

1 of 2

adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

: characterized by aimless, slow, or pointless movement: such as

a

: that winds or meanders

a wandering course

b

: not keeping a rational or sensible course : vagrant

c

: nomadic

wandering tribes

d

of a plant : having long runners or tendrils

wandering

2 of 2

noun

1

: a going about from place to place

—often used in plural

2

: movement away from the proper, normal, or usual course or place

—often used in plural

Synonyms

Adjective

• desultory
• digressional
• digressionary
• digressive
• discursive
• excursive
• leaping
• maundering
• meandering
• rambling

Examples of wandering in a Sentence

Adjective

your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme

a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The wandering nerve was apparent to the first anatomists, notably Galen, the Greek polymath who lived until around the year 216. —R. Douglas Fields, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024

There’s an apple-pie baking contest, cute livestock and wandering entertainers, cheese-making and sheep-shearing demos and a panel discussion Saturday about protecting agricultural diversity, featuring Alice Waters and Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery fame. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

Noun

Crisp foliage, hot coffee, and wandering walks through Central Park—this is New York City at its finest. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2024

The tour is simply a neighborhood wandering, cat-peeping exercise in pure joy — all in celebration of those furry little tyrants that allow humans to live in their homes. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wandering

• wandering albatross
• wandering dude
• wandering eye

Medical Definition

wandering

1 of 2 adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-də-riŋ 

: floating

a wandering spleen

wandering

2 of 2 noun

: movement of a tooth out of its normal position especially as a result of periodontal disease