ramble 1 of 2

ramble

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verb

1
as in to rattle
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to stroll
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ramble contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ramble are meander, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When could meander be used to replace ramble?

In some situations, the words meander and ramble are roughly equivalent. However, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might roam be a better fit than ramble?

While the synonyms roam and ramble are close in meaning, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When is it sensible to use rove instead of ramble?

Although the words rove and ramble have much in common, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than ramble?

The words traipse and ramble are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Where would wander be a reasonable alternative to ramble?

The synonyms wander and ramble are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

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 ramble
Noun
And, oh yes, in between those back-to-back 135-mile rambles, Becker and his support crew hiked to the summit of 14,505-foot Mt. Whitney. James Rainey follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025 The best views—and sunset photos—in the city undoubtedly belong to the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile natural path above the sea with multiple entrance points, which 19th-century vacationers used for fresh-air rambles. AFAR Media, 3 July 2025
Verb
Trump has long bragged about his cognitive ability, repeatedly offering to take a cognitive exam alongside Biden during the 2024 campaign, and has claimed his rambling is a purposeful speaking style. Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 The rambling rocks appear to travel across the sand on their own, leaving clear dirt trails in their wake. Andrew Paul Aug 14, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ramble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramble
Noun
  • The day-long excursion includes transportation to and from Tequila, a Fábrica La Rojeña distillery tour, lunch, Cuervo Tradicional tasting, and an agave fields tour.
    Roshae Hemmings, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
  • If taking excursions booked with a third party that is not the cruise line, check with the third party to make sure their times are correct and are strictly enforced to prohibit delays.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Taking a stroll and admiring fall’s vibrant hues is a quintessential autumn activity — and according to The New York Times, Nashville is one of the best cities to soak in the reds, oranges, and yellows of the beloved season.
    Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
  • That inspired me to walk off lunch by taking a circuitous stroll down to the docks in search of a water taxi.
    Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some residents lamented the change that continues to rattle the historic Denver neighborhood, one that has already experienced generations of displacement.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • One moment, the Sound of Sleat is a sheet of silver under a pale sun; the next, wind drives rain sideways into the distillery’s courtyard, rattling the pagoda roof.
    Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Her task now is simply to wander, wait and listen.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Despite its common name, this creature wasn’t simply a lion that wandered into the Americas.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Zambia also invented the walking safari.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Law enforcement agents carrying machine guns and an officer with a police dog were among the few walking around.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Vansteenberghe, 24, opted for a chic all-black ensemble for his front row jaunt in a turtleneck paired with a matching jacket and tuxedo pants.
    Anika Reed, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • With Bensen and Conner forming a dynamic duo, Carolina will need to tackle well and avoid explosive runs, similar to Travis Etienne’s 71-yard jaunt in Week 1.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Colorful murals adorn the interior, with communal tables and high ceilings, and the outdoors has beer-keg tables and heat lamps and lots of room for patrons — and their dogs — to roam.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • His beam wavered on a patch of blankness, or the corner of an amp, and then began to roam the stage in desperation, scanning here and scanning there—until, from the darkness, the voice of Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden’s singer, was heard.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Try bicycles for more exercise disguised as fun, then saunter over to Spa La Quinta’s 23,000 square feet of bliss.
    Jenny Peters, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In the third quarter, Fields pushed through the goal line on a 2-yard run, and sauntered into the end zone untouched on a fourth-and-goal bootleg call in the fourth quarter that worked beautifully.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramble. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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