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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
Navya Verma, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026
But they can still be thrust back to their days of wanderlust and thrill-seeking whenever caretakers at the community in Los Gatos, California, schedule a date for residents — many of whom are in their 80s and 90s — to take turns donning virtual reality headsets.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Sagittarius is a sign that is known for its thrill-seeking sense of excitement and wanderlust, which Jumanji offers.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Scratch their itch of wanderlust with a gift that enhances their travel experience like a cutesy passport case or a catch-all bag in a bold print like the Luar Yahaira in Leopard Pony Hair.
—Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Dec. 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 3 Jan. 2026.
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wanderlust
noun
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