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

As the wandering Matthew, Rankin lets contrasting depictions of tentative homecoming and wondrous discovery play out on his face. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2025

But much as the food is worth is worth your focus, so is the bar, set in a separate building out back that’s surrounded by a wandering Southern garden. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2025

Noun

The promise of seeing one of these historically great programs earn a shot at emerging from the desert after nearly 40 years of wandering should pay off handsomely for ESPN’s advertisers, who are paying more than $1 million for each 30-second slice of in-game inventory. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2025

But a big reason Sacco and Montgomery have their current titles is Lindholm’s offensive wandering at the start of 2024-25. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 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

Rhymes for wandering

• laundering
• pondering
• squandering

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