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v. wan·dered, wan·der·ing, wan·ders v.intr. 1. To move about without a definite destination or purpose. 2. To go by an indirect route or at no set pace; amble: We wandered toward town. 3. To proceed in an irregular course; meander: The path wanders through the park. 4. To behave in a manner that does not conform to morality or norms: wander from the path of righteousness. 5. To turn the attention from one subject to another with little clarity or coherence of thought: I had a point to make, but my mind started wandering. 6. To be directed without an object or in various directions: His eyes wandered to the balcony. v.tr. 1. To wander across or through: wander the forests and fields. 2. To be directed around or over: Her gaze wandered the docks. n. The act or an instance of wandering. [Middle English wanderen, from Old English wandrian.] wander·er n. wander·ing·ly adv. Synonyms: wander, ramble, roam, rove1, range, meander, stray, gallivant, gad1 These verbs mean to move about at random or without destination or purpose. Wander and ramble stress the absence of a fixed course or goal: The professor wandered down the hall lost in thought. "They would go off together, rambling along the river" (John Galsworthy). Roam and rove emphasize freedom of movement, often over a wide area: "Herds of horses and cattle roamed at will over the plain" (George W. Cable). "For ten long years I roved about, living first in one capital, then another" (Charlotte Brontë). Range suggests wandering in all directions: "a large hunting party known to be ranging the prairie" (Francis Parkman). Meander suggests leisurely wandering over an irregular or winding course: "He meandered to and fro ... observing the manners and customs of Hillport society" (Arnold Bennett). Stray refers to deviation from a proper course or area: "The camels strayed to graze on the branches of distant acacias" (Jeffrey Tayler). Gallivant refers to wandering in search of pleasure: gallivanted all over the city during our visit. Gad suggests restlessness: gadded about unaccompanied in foreign places. |
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