wandering

1 of 2

adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

: characterized by aimless, slow, or pointless movement: such as

a

: that winds or meanders

a wandering course

b

: not keeping a rational or sensible course : vagrant

c

: nomadic

wandering tribes

d

of a plant : having long runners or tendrils

wandering

2 of 2

noun

1

: a going about from place to place

—often used in plural

2

: movement away from the proper, normal, or usual course or place

—often used in plural

Synonyms

Adjective

• desultory
• digressional
• digressionary
• digressive
• discursive
• excursive
• leaping
• maundering
• meandering
• rambling

Examples of wandering in a Sentence

Adjective

your decidedly wandering essay loses its punch—stick to one theme

a wandering carnival that visited small towns all over the South

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There’s an apple-pie baking contest, cute livestock and wandering entertainers, cheese-making and sheep-shearing demos and a panel discussion Saturday about protecting agricultural diversity, featuring Alice Waters and Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery fame. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

But by July, those bed edges have started to look less like a clean edge and more a wandering suggestion. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 July 2024

Noun

The constant cutting among timelines gives the 91 minute picture a pleasant momentum, while songs by the country-folk singer Matthew Houck (a.k.a. Phosphorescent) add a lyrical quality to Fife’s wanderings. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 May 2024

More:Video shows bear walk up to front door of Florida home: Watch Wildlife agencies avoid relocating bears Some residents, including Nayar, wish local wildlife officials would take a more active role in relocating wandering bears. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 29 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wandering

• wandering albatross
• wandering dude
• wandering eye
• wandering Jew

Medical Definition

wandering

1 of 2 adjective

wan·​der·​ing ˈwän-də-riŋ 

: floating

a wandering spleen

wandering

2 of 2 noun

: movement of a tooth out of its normal position especially as a result of periodontal disease