verb

ramble

RAM-buhl

Ramble (verb) means to walk for pleasure without a fixed destination, especially through the countryside. Example: “We rambled along the coastal path all afternoon.”

verb

To walk for pleasure without a fixed destination, especially through the countryside.

"We rambled along the coastal path all afternoon."

"They like to ramble through the hills every weekend."

To talk or write on at length without a clear direction, often drifting from topic to topic.

"He rambled on about his childhood for nearly an hour."

"The email rambled through several unrelated complaints before making its point."

noun

A leisurely walk taken for pleasure, typically in the countryside.

"We went for a long ramble through the woods on Sunday."

How to use ramble

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wander on foot without a fixed route, or to talk without a clear point.

Common pairings

ramble on a country ramble ramble about something

Word forms

rambled past tense, rambles plural, rambles singular

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We _____ along the coastal path all afternoon.

Etymology

Probably from an old dialect word rammle, related to Middle English ramen ("to roam"); the sense of "talking incoherently" developed later, around the 1630s.

Origin: Middle English · First attested 1630

Class of 1630 ramble joined the language around 1630.

cadet sedan tribal

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Synonyms

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range cast roll drift swan stray wander roam jog tramp rove vagabond

Related words

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Rhymes for ramble

amble gamble preamble scramble unscramble

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ramble” mean?

The word “ramble” means to walk for pleasure without a fixed destination, especially through the countryside. In plain terms, to wander on foot without a fixed route, or to talk without a clear point.

How do you pronounce “ramble”?

“Ramble” is pronounced RAM-buhl (/ˈɹæmbəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ramble” in a sentence?

Here is “ramble” used in a sentence: “We rambled along the coastal path all afternoon.”

What part of speech is “ramble”?

Depending on how it is used, “ramble” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “ramble” come from?

The word “ramble” dates back to around 1630 and comes from Middle English. Probably from an old dialect word rammle, related to Middle English ramen ("to roam"); the sense of "talking incoherently" developed later, around the 1630s.

How many meanings does “ramble” have?

“Ramble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to walk for pleasure without a fixed destination, especially through the countryside.

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