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, "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 hike or roam about," and Lust means "pleasure or delight."

Examples of wanderlust in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web With remote work becoming a more viable option for people of all ages experiencing wanderlust in their hearts, the possibility of the expat lifestyle is now more within reach than ever. —

Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2023 Upgrade their next adventure without spending a fortune with this list of the best affordable gifts for anyone with wanderlust. —

Annie Gabillet, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023 For the wanderlust, Amazon’s Prime Day sale is an opportune moment to snag them a new piece of luggage or trendy tech to rely on throughout their travels. —

Laura Jackson, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2023 Fit for burgeoning wanderlust, children's luggage is not only small but also lightweight and easy to pull, often with cute designs or bright colors. —

Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2023 Between wanderlust and self-revelation, Nikki confronts unexpected twists and turns, from launching the first feminist travel publication, Unearth Women, to investigating a mysterious family murder in Colombia, to navigating new love and sordid affairs. —

Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 Exploring this sale section is like discovering your new dream vacation outfit, with each piece carefully crafted to capture the spirit of wanderlust and showcase a kaleidoscope of bold hues. —

Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2023 Across the world, these sanctuaries are magnets for a collective wanderlust. —

Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2023 The series is far too stubbornly itself — idiosyncratic, unassuming, pleasantly adolescent in its woozy combination of wanderlust, hurt and skepticism — to feel either derivative or representative. —

Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wanderlust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.