wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal

b

: to go idly about : ramble

wandering around the house

2

: to follow a winding course : meander

3

a

: to go astray (as from a course) : stray

wandered away from the group

b

: to go astray morally : err

c

: to lose normal mental contact : stray in thought

his mind wandered

transitive verb

: to roam over

wandered the halls

wander noun

wanderer

ˈwän-dər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of wander

• roam
• drift
• stroll

Choose the Right Synonym for wander

wander, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose.

wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Examples of wander in a Sentence

I was just wandering around the house.

They wandered down the street.

Students were wandering the halls.

He wandered away from the trail and got lost.

Recent Examples on the Web

The previous year a few of these people had even wandered the camp in the evenings, men dressed in suits and women with lipstick on their teeth. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

The Dolphins and their fans have been wandering a quarter century in football abyss, in national irrelevance, and wonder how the franchise of the Perfect Season, of Don Shula and Dan Marino, could get this way. — Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Fields went to weed, and livestock wandered untended; the familiar rhythms of rural life gave way to an eerie void. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

When my brother and I returned home from school, no neighborhood kids were wandering around anymore. — Sarah Shanfield, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wandren, from Old English wandrian; akin to Middle High German wandern to wander, Old English windan to wind, twist

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing wander

• go for a wander
• have/take a wander

Rhymes for wander

• condor
• fonder
• launder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• squander
• yonder
• responder
• transponder

Kids Definition

wander

verb

wan·​der ˈwän-dər 

wandered; wandering -d(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to move about without a purpose

2

: to follow a winding course : meander

3

a

: to get off the right course : stray

wandered away

b

: to lose one's normal mental concentration

her mind wandered

wander noun

wanderer

-dər-ər 

noun