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

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
No sightings were reported all day, and the team began to fear Chesney had wandered beyond the search perimeter. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire. —Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
Don’t forget to leave time in your itinerary for a wander around Taos Plaza, which sits in the center of the Taos Historic District. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026 It’s perfectly situated for wanders down the beautiful expanse of Flamand beach or hikes to the highest point of the island. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 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
  • Other tips include not leaving pet food outside, not touching or feeding free-roaming animals, keeping yard landscaping trimmed, keeping lids on trash containers, and closing home crawlspaces.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Dillon said the tortoise was still roaming the grounds of the governor's residence on the island best known as the place Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to following his defeat by the British at Waterloo in 1815.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of roam
Verb
  • New York State Police have arrested about a dozen people for trespassing there so far this year.
    — Tony Aiello, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The home of Nicki Minaj is the subject of a police investigation after a man was arrested for allegedly trespassing on the rapper's property.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • For a mellow stroll, head for the Johnny Cash Trail.
    — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Wait a few hundred-thousand years, and another star will drift into our Oort cloud, perturbing it and potentially triggering new comets arriving in our inner Solar System.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Even college football is drifting toward a more fragmented, paywalled future.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • That’s led to a generation of kids being treated as Big Tech guinea pigs and falling student achievement scores.
    — Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The follow-up Saturday just fell short of also being special.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • The Titans tagged a pair of Colts relievers for five runs on four hits and a pair of walks en route to a 6-2 win in the Lions Tournament’s Open Division play.
    — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Martin allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in five innings to earn the win in his first start of the season.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of walk
Verb
  • For years, Republican lawmakers and education leaders have argued that sociology — especially high-enrollment introductory courses — has been overtaken by progressive ideology and strayed from empirical scholarship.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The Sonos Play doesn't stray far from the company's longtime industrial design.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

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wander
wandered
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Cite this Entry

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wander

Nglish: Translation of wander for Spanish Speakers

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