ramble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ramblenext
1
as in excursion
a short trip for pleasure the couple's weekend rambles up and down the valley in search of interesting antiques

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in stroll
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure our usual practice is to take a ramble around the neighborhood after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

ramble

2 of 2

verb

ˈram-bəl How to pronounce ramble (audio)
1
as in to rattle
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly by tirelessly rambling around San Francisco for a week we probably saw more of it than many residents ever have

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to stroll
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ramble contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ramble are meander, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When could meander be used to replace ramble?

In some situations, the words meander and ramble are roughly equivalent. However, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might roam be a better fit than ramble?

While the synonyms roam and ramble are close in meaning, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When is it sensible to use rove instead of ramble?

Although the words rove and ramble have much in common, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than ramble?

The words traipse and ramble are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Where would wander be a reasonable alternative to ramble?

The synonyms wander and ramble are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

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 ramble
Noun
And, oh yes, in between those back-to-back 135-mile rambles, Becker and his support crew hiked to the summit of 14,505-foot Mt. Whitney. —James Rainey follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025 The best views—and sunset photos—in the city undoubtedly belong to the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile natural path above the sea with multiple entrance points, which 19th-century vacationers used for fresh-air rambles. —AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
Verb
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway? —Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025 Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ramble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramble
  1. excursion
  2. stroll
  3. rattle
  4. wander
  5. walk
  6. jaunt
  7. roam
  8. saunter
Noun
  • Shore excursions are designed to maximize time in the historic capital, but the result is often an exhausting day.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Picking an exact landing site will take some time, although NASA will place the mission in the south pole region of the moon where ice and other critical minerals may be available for astronauts to use for future excursions.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of excursion
Noun
  • The sneakers are ideal for a number of activities — from leisurely strolls to long work shifts to more intense sessions at the gym.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Freshman year of college will probably make senior year of high school look like a stroll down the discount aisle.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Shut your bedroom door or use a towel to prevent rattling.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of being deep fried, pig skins are crisped up on the pit and chopped into shards that deliver an incredible punch of smoke beneath each jaw-rattling crunch.
    — Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of rattle
Verb
  • Although the park attracts millions of nature-loving visitors every year, terrestrial cell phone signal quickly wanes once one wanders off populated areas and away from main roads.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Wildlife officials euthanized a black bear this week after the animal wandered into a Dollar General in northern New Jersey and bit a woman.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of wander
Verb
  • People walk on the UCLA campus on July 30, 2025, in Los Angeles.
    — Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The thick rubber sole feels sturdy and helps with shock absorption to make walking long distances comfortable.
    — Austen Tosone, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of walk
Noun
  • They were sandwiched around a 42-yard jaunt by Baez.
    — Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The jaunt begins January 29, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas and currently concludes April 26 in Cleveland, Ohio.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of jaunt
Verb
  • The firm has its own security force, armed and unarmed, that roam its numerous downtown properties, according to Copaken Brooks principal Jon Copaken.
    — PJ Green September 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2025
  • It’s built under the canopy of a large oak tree, chickens roam the property, and a creek runs along the grounds.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • During the song's second verse, Hayley Williams of Paramore sauntered out, taking over on the vocals on the funky song.
    — Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Try bicycles for more exercise disguised as fun, then saunter over to Spa La Quinta’s 23,000 square feet of bliss.
    — Jenny Peters, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of saunter

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramble. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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