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
Breakfast hours are unlimited, a boon for late sleepers, who are welcome to wander to the terrace or dining room at their convenience. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 Ski resort guests get dangerously close to a large bear wandering around town A big bear was captured on video wandering through Whistler, a popular ski resort town in British Columbia, as bold hotel guests got extremely close to the creature. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2025 Use a center punch to keep your drill bit from wandering. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025 Recall the long delay in even coping with the wandering Chinese spy balloon that made its way across America in 2023, gathering intelligence for a week under Joe Biden before it was finally shot down. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 24 May 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
  • 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
  • Since then, Tex, who sports a yellow ear tag, has been roaming around and randomly making appearances.
    — Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2025
Definition of roam
Verb
  • The lawsuit argued that the two oil companies were public nuisances, that their pollution was trespassing into the counties, and that their pollution violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
  • He was accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility.
    — Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • The Switch's most famous durability issue has been the Joy-Con controllers that have experienced drifting problems, but that's only part of the story here.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025
  • The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to AirNow.gov.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Crucially, the flagship brand Moncler saw sales rise only 2% and its crucial Europe, Middle East, and Africa region fell by 1%.
    — Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 3 June 2025
  • Heavy rain is falling across the Kansas City area, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for parts of the metro.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Definition of fall
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
Definition of walk
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
Definition of stroll
Verb
  • Meanwhile, those who don’t want to stray too far from Santa Cruz can find another fascinating community in the form of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Setbacks may tempt you to stray from your vision, but staying true to yourself attracts the right clients, collaborators and opportunities.
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 27 May 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 11 Jun. 2025.

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