Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: wandrian

wander

1 verb
     
wan‧der1 S3
1

without direction

[intransitive and transitive] to walk slowly across or around an area, usually without a clear direction or purpose
wander in/through/around etc
I'll wander around the mall for half an hour.
She wandered aimlessly about the house.
Ana wandered off to get a drink.
He was found wandering the streets of New York.
2

move away

[intransitive] also wander off to walk away from where you are supposed to stay:
Don't let any of the kids wander off.
3

mind/thoughts

[intransitive] if your mind, thoughts etc wander, you no longer pay attention to something, especially because you are bored or worried:
Mrs Snell's mind wandered and the voices went on and on.
4

conversation

[intransitive] to start to talk about something not related to the main subject that you were talking about before
wander from/off
Pauline started to wander from the point.
5

somebody's mind is wandering

used to say that someone has become unable to think clearly, especially because they are old
6

eyes

[intransitive] if your eyes or your gaze wanders, you look around slowly at different things or at all parts of something:
His gaze wandered round the room.
7

road/river

[intransitive]TTW if a road or a river wanders somewhere, it does not go straight but in curves
wander through/across/along
The Missouri River wanders across several states.
8

hands

[intransitive] if a man's hands wander, he touches the body of a woman he is with, especially where she does not want him to:
Be careful, he's got wandering hands.
WORD FOCUS: walk WORD FOCUS: walk
stroll in a relaxed way for pleasure
wander with no aim or direction
stride in a confident or angry way
march soldiers
hike for long distances in the countryside or the mountains
tiptoe very quietly
wade through water
stagger in an unsteady way because you are drunk or injured
limp with difficulty because one leg is painful or injuredwalk

➔ See also walk
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary