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
Again, no details, and fans' minds are wandering as far as this being an arena or battle royale mode, but that would be a little surprising. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Spend the morning at the beach, wander into town for lunch, play a round of mini golf before dinner, and somehow end the night listening to live music bayside with sandy feet dusting the floorboards of the bar. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026
Noun
The green expanse of Villa Borghese is close enough for a morning wander, while the Colosseum and Forum are a short bus ride away. —Vicki Power, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026 Brielle, Karri, and Nunu wander among the limestone outcrops and sandstone spires. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
  1. roam
  2. trespass
  3. stroll
  4. drift
  5. fall
  6. walk
  7. stray
Verb
  • This particular giant roamed Southeast Asia during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 120 million years ago.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
  • The new enclosure will allow the giraffes to roam inside and outside, eliminating what used to be a long walk from the zoo’s African Savanna to their housing barn.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Definition of roam
Verb
  • Walking on private ground without permission is clearly trespassing in Montana.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
  • Washington explained what happened the night a man trespassed onto airport property, and then was hit and killed by an airplane in the process of takeoff.
    — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • Take a stroll along the Paradise Drive walking path, which runs adjacent to Paradise Beach Park.
    — Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
  • His unlikely stroll down a sidewalk stirred the neighborhood into a tizzy and set in motion a multi-pronged effort to find his owners.
    — Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Order a bowl of seafood chowder or a hearty breakfast, then settle in by the windows overlooking Thomas Basin, where floatplanes and fishing boats drift past throughout the day.
    — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 13 May 2026
  • Fifty years later, the Asian District runs about a mile long but feels like visiting a number of countries at once, as the smell of star anise and fish sauce drifting out of open doors alongside the sound of Spanish from a taqueria two storefronts down.
    — Heide Brandes, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Only two were earned, but they were all deserved after Rodón fell apart in the third frame.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 May 2026
  • Chelsea’s squad demographic falls somewhere in between but is probably closer to the former than the latter, and a football legend with his resume should not encounter the authority problems faced by owner BlueCo’s previous hires.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area Brickell gets a bad rep among visitors as Miami Beach’s boring, business-minded sibling, but a quick walk from the hotel will reveal the up-and-coming neighborhood to be an energizing community lined with vibrant (and clean) shops, restaurants, and bars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026
  • Jeffers flashed his power again, hitting the go-ahead homer Sunday and finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored as the Twins avoided a series sweep.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Definition of walk
Verb
  • Halsey, ethereally draped in sheer white fabric, barely strayed from her post, receiving a steady procession of old friends throughout the night.
    — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
  • Rayner is a favorite of members who think the party has strayed too far from its working-class roots and those who want the party to do more to boost the minimum wage and raise taxes on the rich.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
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 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wander

Nglish: Translation of wander for Spanish Speakers

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