as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
he gads about town every Saturday, flirting and gossiping with various shopkeepers and locals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in peripatetic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gad (about)
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Simon is so reserved that even his live-in girlfriend (an egregiously underused Olivia Thirlby) has given up on him; Trevor is a kooky gadabout who’d be right at home trading druggy celebrity anecdotes with Oliver Putnam.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The wild career of David Johansen — New York Dolls frontman, punk gadabout, occasional actor, and Buster Poindexter portrayer — will be the focus of an upcoming documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021
Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout.
—New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle.
—Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020
So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020
Simon is so reserved that even his live-in girlfriend (an egregiously underused Olivia Thirlby) has given up on him; Trevor is a kooky gadabout who’d be right at home trading druggy celebrity anecdotes with Oliver Putnam.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gad (about)
Verb
-
Adding further to the overall tension is the looming presence of a murderous knight in full armor roaming the countryside.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
With 22 miles of beaches, the nation’s largest urban park system, and endless trails along the Timucuan Preserve and Boneyard Beach, there’s always space to roam.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One is a nomad, and one is an organized perfectionist.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
-
America used to be a nation of nomads.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Empower has also advised veteran former Manchester United and Portugal midfielder Nani throughout a career that has included spells in the United States, Australia, Italy, Turkey and a return to his homeland in its peripatetic latter years.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The peripatetic singer-songwriter’s eponymous third album is a document of wandering and longing.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the structures go up, penguins and seals wander by to observe the team’s progress.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
An old man wandering in the dark.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The service Many travelers would agree that what pits a five-star hotel above the rest is its service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
If travelers are flying into or out of San Francisco's airport and have a connecting flight, folks should expect delays and plan accordingly when booking their tickets.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The outpatient building will include clinics and an ambulatory surgery center.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The property management company is currently surveying residents and providing hotel rooms for those who are not ambulatory.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But your ability to see the ancient wanderer will depend entirely on your location — and equipment.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Spader plays Graham, an enigmatic wanderer who inserts himself into the lives of his old friend John (Peter Gallagher), his wife Ann (Andie MacDowell) and her sister Cynthia (San Giacomo), drawing out all manner of confessions and revelations.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The former consultant and Harvard Business School graduate saw an industry where price and value were drifting apart, so set out to build a handbag brand rooted in accessibility.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Swirling dust, burning trees, thick smoke and drifting embers heighten the danger, while firsthand accounts layered emotional tension.—
Daron James,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gad (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gad%20%28about%29. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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