roam

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb roam contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of roam are meander, ramble, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

Where would meander be a reasonable alternative to roam?

The words meander and roam can be used in similar contexts, but meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might ramble be a better fit than roam?

Although the words ramble and roam have much in common, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When is rove a more appropriate choice than roam?

While the synonyms rove and roam are close in meaning, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When would traipse be a good substitute for roam?

While in some cases nearly identical to roam, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

When can wander be used instead of roam?

The words wander and roam are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 roam When poultry producers find infected birds, whether in tight cages or roaming free-range, they basically get paid to kill the entire flock to try and slow down the disease. Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2025 Brady already has roaming eyes, becoming a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and consulting on team and personnel matters, which, it should be said, is rather obviously a conflict of interest as a broadcaster. Will Leitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025 While the Mets had a family-friendly culture, some were concerned about a preschool kid roaming the outfield with baseballs flying in the air, one after another. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2025 Industry lobbies spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to roam the halls of Congress and nudge the levers of power in their favor. Allison Morrow, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for roam 

Thesaurus Entries Near roam

Cite this Entry

“Roam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roam. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on roam

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