meander

1 of 2

noun

me·​an·​der mē-ˈan-dər 

1

: a winding path or course

the new path, which he supposed only to make a few meanders

—Samuel Johnson

especially : labyrinth

2

: a turn or winding of a stream

The meander eventually became isolated from the main stream.

meandrous

mē-ˈan-drəs 

adjective

meander

2 of 2

verb

meandered; meandering mē-ˈan-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to follow a winding or intricate course

across the ceiling meandered a long crack

—John Galsworthy

2

: to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble

he meandered with the sightseers gawping at the boat people

—John le Carré

Did you know?

Meander comes from Greek Maiandros, an old name for a winding river in Asia Minor that is now known as the Menderes. Despite this origin, the word is more commonly used to refer to a person's wandering course than a river's.

Synonyms

Verb

• wander
• roam
• stroll
• drift

Choose the Right Synonym for meander

wander, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander 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

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Examples of meander in a Sentence

Verb

The path meanders through the garden.

We meandered around the village.

The conversation meandered on for hours.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mysterious medieval ruins fleck otherwise untouched vistas that are often shrouded in mist, and through them, rare animals roam the lowlands, and towering waterfalls meander from above. —Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025

By mid- to late morning, a cold front will push into portions of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas and meander across Missouri through the day and evening hours, the weather service said in its forecast discussion. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025

Verb

Soto says this aesthetic doesn’t require taking your decor down to the baseboards, but can take a slow and meandering evolution instead. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025

Strong demand led Belmond in early 2024 to relaunch the Eastern and Oriental Express, which had stopped running due to the pandemic and now meanders on a three-day trip through Singapore and Malaysia. —John Kell, Fortune, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Latin maeander, from Greek maiandros, from Maiandros (now Menderes), river in Asia Minor

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for meander

• bystander
• commander
• expander
• highlander
• leander
• philander
• brander
• candor
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander

Kids Definition

meander

1 of 2 noun

me·​an·​der mē-ˈan-dər 

1

: a turn or winding of a stream

2

: a winding path or course

meander

2 of 2 verb

meandered; meandering

-d(ə-)riŋ

1

: to follow a winding or complicated course

2

: to wander without a goal or purpose