wander 1 of 2

verb

ˈwän-dər How to pronounce wander (audio)
Definition of wandernext
1
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly we just went outside and wandered around until it was time to go

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to trespass
to commit an offense we have all wandered from the path of righteousness at least once in our lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wander

2 of 2

noun

as in stroll
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure a wander through the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wander are meander, ramble, roam, rove, and traipse. While all these words 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

When might meander be a better fit than wander?

The words meander and wander are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When is ramble a more appropriate choice than wander?

The meanings of ramble and wander largely overlap; however, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for wander?

The words roam and wander can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When can rove be used instead of wander?

While in some cases nearly identical to wander, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

In what contexts can traipse take the place of wander?

The synonyms traipse and wander are sometimes interchangeable, but traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wander
Verb
In one scene from their lives, a bear trap is intentionally left for Benjy to wander into it. —Justin Porter, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 From a distance, Liliana Martinez watched the unfolding scenes to make sure no one wandered off or hurt themselves. —Amy Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025 In character as the president, Johnson launched into a wandering monologue about Trump’s wide-reaching tariffs, which included targets such as the unpopulated McDonald Islands. —Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025 Until our next journey—keep wandering, keep discovering, and stay curious. —Cliff Lewis, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
  1. roam
  2. trespass
  3. drift
  4. fall
  5. walk
  6. stroll
  7. stray
Verb
  • According to the American Emu Association, the birds — which are native to Australia — are often considered livestock, and it's usually recommended that owners have at least one acre of land for the bird to roam.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This is The Wild Animal Sanctuary, where more than 450 animals brought to Colorado’s eastern plains get a second chance to roam.
    — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • Why else would a man who just trespassed, exposed himself on national television (and apparently damaged an expensive stage curtain) simply be allowed to dress and address the press?
    — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Last year, Wheeler served two days in Vernon County jail on six trespassing convictions from 2020, 2022 and 2023.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • But with the wind howling in Tuesday at Rate Field, left fielder Andrew Benintendi drifted over and made the catch.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Since then it’s drifted much farther away and has dimmed considerably.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of drift
Verb
  • And bond market yields fall by about 150 basis points (1.5 percentage points).11 The Fed Fed Chair Powell says the Fed is waiting for the softening survey data to translate into hard data before moving toward lower interest rates.
    — Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Detectives kept it to themselves, instead the LAPD let the suspects think that investigators had fallen for what police perceived to be a trick.
    — Greg Fisher, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of fall
Noun
  • The Cubs drew three walks against Padres starter Nick Pivetta, including Tucker’s run-scoring walk with the bases loaded in the second inning.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Cleveland’s starters: 43 innings, 53 hits, 32 earned runs, 18 walks, 26 strikeouts (6.70 ERA) 1: The number of games without a hit for Steven Kwan.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of walk
Verb
  • Spend an afternoon strolling around downtown’s Market Square and enjoying the ample greenspace at World’s Fair Park.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Bravo’s comments about Woodley come after the pair were first spotted strolling in Paris together last month.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • The panel did not stray from their earlier guesses for him, throwing out familiar names like Dave Matthews, Daryl Hall, and Pat Monahan of Train once more.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Kering Eyewear was a pioneer in changing the business model for luxury groups with regard to the eyewear category, straying from the well-trodden licensing business model.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

wan
wander
wandered
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Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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