ramble 1 of 2

ramble

2 of 2

verb

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
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
Local spottings posted on social media include rambles through a fast- food drive-through and various backyards. Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024 Newsom’s red-state rambles may end up having no effect whatsoever on his political future. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
But for the sun-seeking pilgrims who’ve already spent too much time in the car, that rambling building practically radiates golden light. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 17 May 2025 Little Dog’s grandmother Lan enlists him to tweeze out her gray hairs, rewarding him with rambling myths and fables. Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ramble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramble
Noun
  • Each of the six itineraries is an experiential deep dive of immersive cultural moments, unforgettable active excursions, the most stunning sights and indulgent cuisine.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Noise-reducing Earplugs Sometimes a European city break means sticking to a small budget and finding ways to stretch your budget to see as many cities or enjoy as many excursions as possible.
    Gregory Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • The chill in investor confidence spread to the stock market, but several announcements from Trump about tariffs rattled stocks deeper.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • The booms rattle windows, frighten pets, and have raised concerns about threats to the structural integrity of private homes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Across the street, walking to their apartments, Marta Becerra, 50, and Margarita Mota, 60, said people from the parking structure had wandered into their apartment complex, stealing bicycles and other items from people’s porches.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
  • Any Colorado wolves that wander into Utah, New Mexico or Arizona will be retrieved and brought back to the Centennial State, under agreements state wildlife officials inked with those neighboring states.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • The elephant strolled in from the nearby national park, Kha Yai, and is a familiar sight in the Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand, the Associated Press reported.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 4 June 2025
  • It’s said that as a young and then unknown designer, Christian Dior, strolled past the Hôtel Plaza Athénée on a breezy afternoon.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • The power plant allows the car to cover zero to 60 mph in 13 seconds, a downright leisurely jaunt by today’s standards.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
  • Eat, Play, Love: London Just a quick jaunt through the Chunnel, London awaits for another half of the eat, play, love escape.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Mariah lost senior dog Rocky late in 2024 at age 12, having had him since childhood, and regularly posts videos of him in remembrance—playing, napping, on walks, and playing with his sister, Gigi.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • The relationship between the two was on display Wednesday night in Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Davis received both a lifetime achievement award and a spot on the theater's walk of fame.
    Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Tesla’s robotaxis will roam city streets, and humanoid robots dubbed Optimus will perform everyday tasks.
    Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
  • Depending on the weather and other conditions such as wildfires, rattlesnakes may roam at any time of the day or night.
    Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Edwards drained a long 2-pointer on the next possession to wrap it up, sauntering to the edge of the court during a timeout to encourage the crowd to get even louder.
    Khobi Price, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Fans even saw Sol up close and personal when the singer momentarily vanished from the stage and sauntered down the aisle.
    Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramble. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ramble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!