meaning of wandering verb

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wander noun

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What does the noun wander mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun wander . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun wander ?

How is the noun wander pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun wander come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun wander is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for wander is from 1843, in a letter by John Campbell Shairp, literary scholar.

It is also recorded as a verb from the Old English period (pre-1150).

wander is formed within English, by conversion.

Etymons: wander v.

Nearby entries

• wand, v. 1572–
• wandale, n.¹ Old English–1642
• Wandale, n.² a1387–1908
• Wandalical, adj. ?a1475
• wand-bearer, n. 1840–
• wand-bone, n. 1488
• wand-church, n. ?c1450
• wandclot, n. 1397
• wanded, adj. 1567–
• wandelard, n. 1338
• wander, n. 1843–
• wander, v. Old English–
• wanderable, adj. 1906–
• wander-bird, n. 1924–
• wander-book, n. 1844–
• wandered, adj. c1420–
• wanderer, n. c1440–
• wandering, n. a1300–
• wandering, adj. Old English–
• wandering Jew, n. 1622–
• Wanderjahr, n. 1893–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for wander, n..

wander, n. was first published in 1921; not yet revised.

wander, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into wander, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1921)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View wander, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for wander, n., browse entry.

Definition of 'wander'

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wander in American English

Wander in british english, examples of 'wander' in a sentence wander, trends of wander.

View usage over: Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically wander

• wand reader
• wander aimlessly
• wander alone
• wander an aisle
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'W'

Related terms of wander

• eyes wander
• wander plug
• polar wander
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Synonyms of wander

• as in to roam
• as in to trespass
• as in stroll
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Thesaurus Definition of wander

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• knock (about)
• gad (about)
• kick around
• mill (about or around)
• fall from grace
• break the law

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Thesaurus Definition of wander  (Entry 2 of 2)

• constitutional
• perambulation
• peregrination

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wander contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wander are meander , ramble , roam , rove , and traipse . While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

When might meander be a better fit than wander ?

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

When is ramble a more appropriate choice than wander ?

The meanings of ramble and wander largely overlap; however, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

When would roam be a good substitute for wander ?

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

When can rove be used instead of wander ?

While in some cases nearly identical to wander , rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

In what contexts can traipse take the place of wander ?

The synonyms traipse and wander are sometimes interchangeable, but traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

Examples of wander in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this entry.

“Wander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wander. Accessed 14 Sep. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on wander

Nglish: Translation of wander for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wander for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of wander noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• I went to the park and had a wander around.

Definitions on the go

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

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Meaning of wandered in English

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wander verb ( MOVE AROUND )

• walk The baby has just learned to walk.
• stride She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager.
• march He marched right in to the office and demanded to see the governor.
• stroll We strolled along the beach.
• wander She wandered from room to room, not sure of what she was looking for.
• amble She ambled down the street, looking in shop windows.
• crawl There'd been a bad accident on the motorway and traffic was crawling.
• trundle Lorries trundle through the narrow lanes.
• creep He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise.
• trudge They trudged wearily through the snow.
• stroll We spent the afternoon strolling around Budapest.
• amble He ambled over to the window.
• Don't worry if you lose hold of the reins - the horse won't wander off.
• He wandered around, clearing up in a desultory way.
• We wandered along the shore , stepping over the flotsam that had washed up in the night .
• We wandered through the beautifully proportioned rooms of the Winter Palace.
• She was wandering around in a daze this morning .
• His eyes wandered over the posters adorning the walls .
• dumbwalking

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

wander verb ( SUBJECT )

• bury the lede idiom
• candy coating
• candy-coated
• circumlocution
• circumlocutory
• get on to/onto something
• gloss over something
• go off on a tangent idiom
• prevaricate
• tiptoe around something/someone
• unexpressed

Related word

Examples of wandered.

In English, many past and present participles of verbs can be used as adjectives. Some of these examples may show the adjective use.

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Wander vs. Wonder: How To Use Each Word

• Wonder Vs. Wander

⚡ Quick summary

The verb wander (pronounced [ won -der ]) typically means “to roam” or “to meander.” The word wonder (pronounced [ wuhn -der ]) is typically used as a verb to mean “to think curiously,” “to be amazed,” or “to doubt.” As a noun, it’s used to mean “something strange and surprising,” “a miraculous deed or event,” or “the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising.”   

The words wander and wonder look very similar, but they have very different meanings and uses. 

In this article, we will define wander and wonder , explain how we use them differently, and provide example sentences that show how we typically use them in sentences. 

wonder  vs. wander

The word wonder (pronounced [ wuhn -der ]) is used as a verb and a noun. As a verb, it typically means “to think curiously,” “to be amazed,” or “to doubt.” 

For example:

• I wonder what will happen at the party this weekend. 
• They wondered at the amazing acrobatics of the circus performers.
• I wonder if Oscar can really speak Spanish like he claims. 

Wonder is also used as a noun to mean “something strange and surprising,” “a miraculous deed or event,” or “the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising.” 

• The collection was filled with wonders from around the world. 
• The magician was able to perform such wonders as turning dirt into gold. 
• We were filled with wonder as we watched the firework show. 

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The word wander (pronounced [ won -der ]) is typically used as a verb to mean “to move about without a set path, to roam,” “to follow a circuitous route, to meander,” and “to take a direction without conscious intent, as with thoughts,” as well as several other similar meanings. 

• She wandered through the woods for a while before she found a lake.
• The story started out good, but then it wandered off into a confusing mess. 
• He was so bored that his mind began to wander into thoughts of lunch.

It is possible to use the word wander as a noun, but this usage is rare. Instead, the noun sense of wandering is much more likely to be used. By contrast, both the noun and verb sense of wonder are commonly used.  

Examples of wander and wonder in a sentence

Let’s amble into some amazing sentences that show how we typically use wander and wonder .

• They got lost on the way to the pool and wandered into the sauna. 
• As a kid, I always wondered about how different machines worked.
• The president wandered off on a tangent about pizza before getting back to his speech. 
• The wizard’s tower was full of magical wonders, including a flying carpet. 
• We were full of wonder as we wandered through the science museum.

Don't wander off course when learning how to distinguish "coarse" from "course."

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What do “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect” mean in English verb tenses?

In English verb No definition set for verb Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. tenses, the words “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect” describe the aspect of a verb. Every English verb has a tense No definition set for tense Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. and an aspect :

The tense tells you if it happened before now (past), during now (present), or after now (future).

The aspect tells you other information, like how it happened, how long it happened for, or when it happened compared to something else.

The aspect determines which auxiliary verb No definition set for auxiliary verb Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. ( be, do, have ) you use while the tense determines which form (past, present, future) you use. For example:

In this post, we’ll look at how to form verbs by combining tense and aspect and how verb aspects help us describe events. Now, let’s get into the words “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect”!

This is a more advanced and high-level look at tense in English. For more basic information, start with our post on the English verb tenses .

Table of Contents

How to identify the aspect of an english verb.

To identify the aspect of an English verb, all you need to do is look at the auxiliary verb :

Remember that most English verbs are expressed in two parts: an auxiliary verb (or “helping verb”) and a main verb (which describes the action or situation). For example:

Jim has forgotten his keys.

Did you clean your room?

She is reading a book.

Some notes on the pattern above:

If there is a modal auxiliary verb like will, can, should, might, may, etc. the next word is the auxiliary that will tell you the aspect:

I might have forgotten.

It will be working soon.

A verb can use both have and be. This is called the perfect continuous aspect in English .

She has been cleaning.

How to choose the form of the main verb?

The form of the main verb depends on which auxiliary verb you use directly before it. For example:

If there is no auxiliary verb then the form of the verb depends on the tense and the subject. Here are the options:

We can use these same rules to choose the form of the auxiliary verb when more than one auxiliary verb is present!

She will have brought the drinks.

will (modal) → have (root)

have → brought (past participle)

Marcus should be bringing the drinks.

should (modal) → be (root)

be → bringing (present participle)

Maria might have been doing her homework.

might (modal) → have (root)

have → been (past participle)

been → doing (present participle)

How is the aspect related to the form of the main verb?

Because the aspect tells you the auxiliary verb and the auxiliary verb tells you the main verb form , the aspect can also generally tell you the form of the main verb:

How to identify the tense of an English verb?

The tense of a verb (past, present, future) determines the form of the first auxiliary verb . The chart below shows the form of the three main auxiliary verbs, do , be , and have , in the past, present, and future tenses.

Some notes:

If there is no auxiliary , look at the form of the main verb to identify the tense:

root / root + - s → present tense

root + - ed / irregular → past tense

Remember that the present simple and the present continuous can also be used to talk about the future in English

Check out our article on modal verbs in English to learn more about how tense is expressed when modal verbs like can , should , or might are used. It’s a bit more complicated!

So, let’s look at how tense and aspect are expressed together in a verb:

I am running.

the auxiliary verb is a form of be → continuous aspect

am is in the present tense → present tense

She has run.

the auxiliary verb is a form of have → perfect aspect

has , is in the present tense → present tense

there is no auxiliary verb → simple aspect

ran is in the past tense → past tense

Did you run?

the first auxiliary verb is a form of do → simple aspect

did is in the past tense → past tense

How does the aspect affect the meaning of a verb?

In English, the aspect affects the meaning of a verb by adding time detail to the basic English verb tenses .

The tense gives us three categories

past (before now)

present (during now)

future (after now)

The aspect of a verb allows you to answer question like:

For how long did it happen?

When did it happen compared to something else?

Did it finish?

Is it a habit?

Did it repeat?

In each tense, the aspect gives you more information about when and how something happened. The chart below can give you a quick idea of how this works in all three tenses (past, present, future). The links in the chart will bring you to more complete explanations of how to use each form.

As you can see, each aspect is a little different in each tense, but do you notice any patterns across the tenses? Here are some general observations about the sorts of time details each aspect gives you in all English tenses:

The simple aspect is usually used for situations that are settled (true, decided, or finished).

I always have coffee at breakfast.

I saw a good movie yesterday.

The continuous aspect is always used when actions or situations continue for a period of time. Generally the period of time will overlap with another important moment in the same tense.

Jimmy is playing in the yard.

Lawrence was hugging the cat all night (last night).

The perfect aspect is usually used to talk about an action or situation that sets things up for a later situation . The tense of a verb in the perfect aspect depends on when the later situation is/was.

Mark has taught English for three years.

I had met John before the party started.

In this article, we have learned some of the key traits of verb aspects in English:

A verb’s aspect is important for forming English verbs and for understanding exactly when, for how long, and how an event took place.

When you build an English verb:

Each aspect is associated with an auxiliary verb and a main verb form.

The tense tells you which form of the auxiliary verb to use.

There are three main verb aspects in English:

Simple aspect

Auxiliary do

Usually for situations that are settled, finished, true, or planned

Continuous aspect

Auxiliary be

Mostly for actions or events that happen over a period of time

Perfect aspect

Auxiliary have

Mostly for things that happen before another time in the same tense and that are important at that second time

As you begin to understand and use verb aspects with verb tenses , your English will become more detailed. When you combine these correctly, you will be able to tell your listener both when and how long an action took place.

Want to put your new understanding of verb aspects to work? Check out the verb activities we’ve prepared for you! Or, review what you’ve learned with the printable versions of our verb aspect charts .

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