wanderlust

noun

wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst 

: strong longing for or impulse toward wandering

Did you know?

Wanderlust Has German Roots

"For my part," writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move..." Sounds like a case of wanderlust if we ever heard one. Those with wanderlust don't necessarily need to go anywhere in particular; they just don't care to stay in one spot. The etymology of wanderlust is a very simple one that you can probably figure out yourself. Wanderlust is a lust for wandering. The word comes from German, in which wandern means "to wander, hike, or stray" and Lust means "pleasure" or "desire."

Examples of wanderlust in a Sentence

Wanderlust has led him to many different parts of the world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Long before Emily Cooper moved to Paris, the French capital has been a source of wanderlust for travelers the world over, who flock to the city for attractions such as the glittering Chateau de Versailles and the masterful Mona Lisa at the Louvre. —Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025

But a great destination wedding can also induce its fair share of wanderlust. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 June 2025

All designed to embody a refined sense of wanderlust. —Essence, 2 June 2025

Prepare for a spontaneous surge of wanderlust as the month comes to a close. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German, from wandern to wander + Lust desire, pleasure

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wanderlust

• antitrust
• overthrust
• readjust
• unitrust
• adjust
• combust
• discussed
• disgust
• distrust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust

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Kids Definition

wanderlust

noun

wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst 

: strong longing to travel