Definition of WANDERLUST

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

But beyond the mistletoe kisses and snowy scenes, the films may inspire a little wanderlust, too. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Hallmark's 'A Majestic Christmas' Was Filmed in the Cutest Small Town—And You Can Visit," 2 Dec. 2018 Out of that aforementioned discussion (and other smaller internal chats), a forecast was born: For Spring 2019, wanderlust and craftiness are the big stories, so are bold shoulders and beige. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "I Like It Like That! 11 Outfits That Will Be All Over Instagram This Spring," 19 Oct. 2018 The enormous design selection ranges from wanderlust nature scenes to old-timey sailor-and-compass prints to kittens shooting lasers out of their eyes (sold out, obviously). — Jill Kiedaisch, Popular Mechanics, "Tyvek Time? These Watches Are Made of Recycled Home Wrap," 13 Nov. 2018 There's nothing like a gloriously sunny day to inspire a serious case of wanderlust. — Juliet Izon, Good Housekeeping, "5 Cheap Road Trips to Take When You Really Need to Get Out of Town," 25 July 2018 Those born with natal planets in the Ninth House are extremely curious and inquisitive, with deep-rooted wanderlust. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "The 12 Astrological Houses: Interpreting Your Birth Chart Beyond the Zodiac," 6 Oct. 2018 Pierpaolo Piccioli doesn’t need a far-off bit of wanderlust, thank you. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "At Valentino, Fantasy Meets Reality for Spring 2019," 1 Oct. 2018 With a Twist Beach waves are one thing, but next season's wanderlust comes courtesy of hair styled to playful perfection—after all, what's more fresh than seeming straight off a day of outdoor revelry? — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "The 6 Beauty Trends That Stole Our Hearts at New York Fashion Week," 13 Sep. 2018 Fueled by wanderlust, these archers can be found traversing all corners of the world on thrill-seeking expeditions. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "The Personality of a Sagittarius, Explained," 2 Feb. 2018

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.