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
Relevance
as in gypsy
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gad (about)
New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021
The giggling gadabout who dies penniless.
—Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020
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
He was inundated with offers and tried to avoid being typecast as the likable gadabout.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2021
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
Noun
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
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
He was inundated with offers and tried to avoid being typecast as the likable gadabout.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2021
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gad (about)
Verb
-
Their cattle then roam the yerba mate plantation, clear the weeds–which both feeds the cattle and eliminates the need for pesticides–and its manure helps enrich the soil.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Residents complain of thieves roaming the streets after dusk.—
Sophie Neiman,
Christian Science Monitor,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Despite the daily challenges this peripatetic uprooted existence poses, Brandt’s photographs capture their dignity and pride in the strength of their family units.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
After decades toggling between top studio and production jobs, the peripatetic 72-year-old billionaire has been on a cold streak of late.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After a 3-month long girls trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast, a wayward pair of endangered North Atlantic right whales known as Curlew and Koala have finally wandered back to the Atlantic Ocean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Alberta is skeptical… until Hetty points out how Pete has been wandering and dating up a storm, was secretly in the mafia and punched Thor in the face after the Viking slept with Carol.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The idea is to stop hospitals from getting more money from Medicare for procedures that can be done in less expensive settings, like a physician’s office or an ambulatory surgical center.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
15 Apr. 2025
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Furthermore, lawmakers may pursue site-neutrality payments, which implies paying the same amount for the same outpatient services regardless of whether the service is performed in a hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or physician’s office.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Yet successful nomad entrepreneurs prove otherwise.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
One of the spots drawing nomads in droves is Medellín, located in Colombia’s northwest.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the show, Sheeran often drifted to the back of the stage to lock into tight grooves with bodhrán (an Irish drum) player Eamon Murray, as fiddle player Niamh Dunne carved out fiery solos.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
16 Apr. 2025
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Texas officials disputed Mexico’s claim that the bodies were tangled in the buoys and said only one body was found and that the person drowned upstream and drifted downstream toward the buoys.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For a more cushioned New Balance option, consider the Fresh Foam 1080s, which Glamour contributor and marathoner Jenny McCoy swears by for both long-distance running and casual neighborhood strolling.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
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His goal was to capture that throwback feeling of aimless summer days strolling down the boardwalk with the frozen snack in hand in his Lemon Italian Ice flavor.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Settlement is home to little more than a few island-style rental properties, tiny stores for provisions, and local eateries, meaning most travelers will just be passing through.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2025
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Waynesville Many travelers enjoy browsing shops on a sunny afternoon, and Waynesville's central area is the perfect place to cure the shopping bug.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gad (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gad%20%28about%29. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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