Wanderlust Has German Roots

For my part, writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey, "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 lust (or "desire") for wandering. The word comes from German, in which wandern means "to wander," and Lust means "desire."

Examples of wanderlust in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web It’s the perfect travel guide for any dad with a bit of wanderlust. — Marah Eakin, USA TODAY, 8 June 2021 Though more Americans are getting vaccinated and countries are gradually opening up their borders for tourists, roadtrips remain the easiest and more importantly, safest way to relieve your wanderlust. — Katie Chang, Forbes, 31 May 2021 The pandemic has prompted a flush of corporate wanderlust among people already working. — Chris Morris, Fortune, 15 May 2021 Prior to the pandemic, performing took Kang all over the world, which is the perfect job perk to satisfy the perpetual wanderlust of a Sag. — Devon Abelman, Allure, 13 Apr. 2021 Airing in 2020, the show helped quell our wanderlust as Padma explored the diverse cultures that are integral to American food today. — Merri Jill Rhodes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2021 But there exists for many of us an undeniable pull of wanderlust, to end the malaise brought on by staying put for most of 2020. — Eric Barton, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Apr. 2021 For some, an extended vacation or a more flexible workweek might quell their wanderlust. — New York Times, 21 Apr. 2021 Satisfy your wanderlust with a yoga retreat and experience the benefits of cultivating a daily practice under the guidance of some of the world's best teachers. — Maria Eilersen, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2021

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