rove

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rove contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rove are meander, ramble, roam, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is meander a more appropriate choice than rove?

The words meander and rove are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Where would ramble be a reasonable alternative to rove?

Although the words ramble and rove 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 would roam be a good substitute for rove?

The words roam and rove can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When might traipse be a better fit than rove?

The meanings of traipse and rove largely overlap; however, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

In what contexts can wander take the place of rove?

While in some cases nearly identical to rove, 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 rove As usual, Nelson will spend this year on the road, first at his Luck Reunion on Thursday and then on his roving Outlaw Music Festival with Bob Dylan. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025 These deer-resistant groundcover plants aren't appealing to roving herds. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Mar. 2025 Starks has studied Kyle Hamilton (Ravens) and Budda Baker (Cardinals) in terms of their play-making ability as roving safeties. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 Future Moon missions, including human expeditions, will require precise positioning data to help spacecraft and astronauts navigate to pinpoint landings and rove across the lunar surface. Kristin Shaw, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rove
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rove
Verb
  • Room to roam: Wild Heaven Beer West End Communal seating, fire pits, and clear lines of sight to children running around offer ample opportunities to relax.
    Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Loading your audio article SAN JOSE — Karlie Lema had the ball at her feet and plenty of green grass to roam.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Elderly residents wandered off without supervision, medications weren’t properly administered, and emergency pull cords in some bedrooms didn’t work, the state alleged.
    Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Droids also wandered about recently at SXSW in a presentation by Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman called The Future of World Building At Disney.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As another season at Tottenham Hotspur drifts towards an uncertain close, questions over the future of head coach Ange Postecoglou loom large.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.3% after drifting between small gains and losses several times through the day.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rove. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!