Wander

Meaning

Wander means to walk or move around without a particular destination or purpose. It can also mean to move away from the subject or direction of a conversation or thought.

Pronunciation

/ˈwɒn.dər/

Word Forms

• Base form: wander
• Past tense: wandered
• Past participle: wandered
• Present participle: wandering
• Noun: wanderer / wandering

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

• wander around — to walk around without a particular destination.
• wander through — to walk slowly through a place without a fixed destination.
• wander off — to leave a place or group without intending to.
• wander aimlessly — to move around without a clear purpose.
• wander the streets — to walk around streets without a particular destination.
• mind wanders — one's thoughts move away from what one is supposed to be concentrating on.

Example Sentences

• We spent the afternoon wandering around the old city.
• She wandered through the forest without knowing exactly where she was going.
• The child wandered away from his parents in the crowded market.
• He often lets his mind wander when he is tired.
• They wandered aimlessly through the streets until sunset.

Literary Example

Example:

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood”

— Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Here, wander is closely associated with the poem's central image of travelling through an uncertain landscape without knowing where each path will lead. The poem explores the idea of choosing a direction while facing uncertainty about the road ahead.

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