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 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
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 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
-
Design devotees, creative professionals, and global nomads who value understatement over flash.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
One is a nomad, and one is an organized perfectionist.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 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
-
Harbor seals are typically found along North Atlantic coasts from Canada and Greenland through New York, though some occasionally wander as far south as Florida, according to the New England Aquarium's website.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Back in town, visitors can also wander through Old Town Murrieta along Washington Avenue.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Owned by Horoy Group, Conrad Shenzhen is poised to usher global travelers to the Chinese gateway city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Because many travelers book trips months in advance, the biggest question now is whether the recent disruptions in western Mexico will stabilize before those peak weeks or whether airlines and cruise lines will continue adjusting schedules and itineraries as spring break demand ramps up.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Vizient was founded in 2016 and now provides solutions and services to more than two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and more than one-third of ambulatory providers.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Feb. 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
-
Goss knows a space like this can easily drift from creative purposes.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Alexander Daniel Acevedo, 28, of Boca Raton, was driving an electric scooter east on Sandalfoot Boulevard when Adams’ Chevrolet drifted over a center turn lane and partly into the eastbound lane where Acevedo was riding the scooter, the Sheriff’s Office said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gad (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gad%20%28about%29. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
