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View synonyms for wander

wander

[ won-der ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to ramble without a definite purpose or objective; roam, rove, or stray:

    to wander over the earth.

    Synonyms: stroll, range

  2. to go aimlessly, indirectly, or casually; meander:

    The river wanders among the rocks.

    Synonyms: saunter

  3. to extend in an irregular course or direction:

    Foothills wandered off to the south.

  4. to move, pass, or turn idly, as the hand or the eyes.
  5. (of the mind, thoughts, desires, etc.) to take one direction or another without conscious intent or control:

    His attention wandered as the speaker droned on.

  6. to stray from a path, place, companions, etc.:

    During the storm the ship wandered from its course.

    Synonyms: veer, swerve

  7. to deviate in conduct, belief, etc.; err; go astray:

    Let me not wander from Thy Commandments.

  8. to think or speak confusedly or incoherently.

    Synonyms: rave, ramble

  9. (of a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment) to move about or walk in a seemingly aimless or random manner.


verb (used with object)

  1. to travel about, on, or through:

    He wandered the streets.

noun

  1. Mechanics. the drift of a gyroscope or a similar device.

wander

/ ˈwɒndə /

verb

  1. also tr to move or travel about, in, or through (a place) without any definite purpose or destination
  2. to proceed in an irregular course; meander
  3. to go astray, as from a path or course
  4. (of the mind, thoughts, etc) to lose concentration or direction
  5. to think or speak incoherently or illogically
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. the act or an instance of wandering
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈwandering, adjectivenoun
  • ˈwanderer, noun
  • ˈwanderingly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • wander·er noun
  • outwander verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wander1

First recorded before 900; Middle English wandren, Old English wandrian “to wend repeatedly” (cognate with German wandern ), from wendan; wend
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wander1

Old English wandrian; related to Old Frisian wandria, Middle Dutch, Middle High German wanderen
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Example Sentences

If there’s no Wander Walk in the neighborhood, your kids can create something similar.

Hear from the founders of innovative brands including WANDER Beauty, Topicals, Ettitude, GEENIE, GEM, Floyd and Goodfair.

As Yellowstone bears increasingly wander outside the sanctuary of the park, they run an ever-greater risk of getting shot.

Some kids are prone to letting their minds wander and daydreaming.

Save for the clip of heels as visitors wander around the gallery, the venue is silent.

Finally, I have to wander slightly off brief with my last two recommendations.

One can even rent out the villa here or wander down from the Arc de Triomphe and peek through the fence.

He allowed his mind to wander back into the past—back many years to the time when he had gone into the country to take a meal.

Of all the inhabitants of London chambers those are the most lonely who never wander away from London.

Sometimes Jehosophat's father opens the gate in the fence and lets the geese wander down to the pond.

Literally and figuratively, their lives seemed to wander through flowery pleasure-paths.

She appeared to wander in her mind, for sometimes her words were coherent, at other times she merely babbled.

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