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
It’s best explored by taking the cable car up the steep cliffs and wandering down the winding, sloping streets. —Mark Lakin, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025 These ceramics stores abound on every cobblestone street—and make sure to spend your time wandering through each and every one. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 9 July 2025 The shelter added that Captain ended up at Bentonville after a woman found the dog wandering near a road while traveling in Missouri. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 5 July 2025 Read a book, breathe deeply or just let your mind wander. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for wander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wander
  1. roam
  2. trespass
  3. drift
  4. fall
  5. walk
  6. stroll
  7. stray
Verb
  • The Rhône spills into the wild Camargue delta, where white horses gallop through salt marshes, flamingos strike poses in pink lagoons, and black bulls roam freely beneath the vast Provençal sky.
    — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Historically, the species roamed throughout much of the Southwest through central Mexico before being nearly eradicated from the wild by the 1970s, largely due to conflicts with the livestock industry.
    — Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • Police responded to the home shortly before 5 p.m. when Fahey called 911 and reported that the two men trespassed on his property.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2025
  • Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell filed court documents accusing a Florida sheriff's office of failing to remove beachgoers who trespass on his oceanfront property and is asking a judge to intervene.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 17 July 2025
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • As agencies begin translating priorities into rules and funding decisions, implementation could drift into partisan favoritism.
    — Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Football, meanwhile, was still drifting about in his mind.
    — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Definition of drift
Verb
  • The Northern Territory has previously experienced cases of falling trees causing death, per the outlet.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • National Ice Cream Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of July, which falls on July 20 this year.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of fall
Noun
  • The city earned a bike score of 57.6 and walk score of 61.5 — the latter being nearly 12 points higher than Madison's walk score.
    — Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • The resort’s white-sand Rosa Marina beach club (with Blue Flag ranking, lifeguards, loungers and umbrellas) is a short walk from the hotel, but guests can also take a trolley to get to the sea.
    — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of walk
Verb
  • Shelling, also known as beachcombing, is strolling along the seashore in search of seashells.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
  • Outside of the spa, stroll the Lichtentaler Allee, a famous park dotted with sculptures, rose gardens, and Belle Époque architecture.
    — Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Hope never strayed far from the community's mind: to this day, fresh flowers decorate her grave.
    — Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
  • Bob Marley almost never strays from the top spot on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
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 29 Jul. 2025.

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