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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
Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 1 Apr. 2025
The creative wanderlust that drove Lean’s 2022 album, Stardust, and Bladee’s sprawling Cold Visions this year pave the way for a more confident and streamlined musical travelogue.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2024
Follow Raven for continued coverage of world travel, vegan restaurants, luxury hotels, Disney vacations, and gift ideas for those with wanderlust.
—Robin Raven, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Anthony Bourdain defined himself by his endless curiosity and wanderlust.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wanderlust
Cite this Entry
“Wanderlust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wanderlust. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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wanderlust
noun
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