wander
wander Lexical Profile
wander Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To walk, move, or travel about in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way without a fixed destination.
"After finishing the museum tour, the visitors decided to wander through the botanical gardens."
To move away from a fixed path, group, or intended place; to go astray.
"Parents must keep a close watch so that young children do not wander from the campsite."
To lose concentration, drift away from a subject, or become unfocused (of a person's mind, thoughts, or attention).
"During the lengthy afternoon lecture, his attention began to wander toward his upcoming vacation."
To curve or wind slowly across an area (of a river, road, or path).
"The narrow country lane continues to wander through rolling hills and quiet valleys."
• noun
An act or instance of walking or traveling about in a leisurely, casual, or aimless manner.
"We went for a pleasant wander through the historic market square before dinner."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused with the near-homophone 'wonder': 'wander' means to walk or move about aimlessly, whereas 'wonder' means to feel curiosity or doubt about something.
• Rhymes for wander
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English wandrian ('to roam, move about aimlessly'), a frequentative derivative of the Proto-Germanic root *wand-, which is also the source of the verb 'wend' and 'wind' (to turn or twist).