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
1
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."
2
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
1
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- rambles
- Third person singular
- rambles
- Past tense
- rambled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Class of 1630
ramble joined the language around 1630.
See the full Class of 1630 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ramble
See all rhymes for ramble →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.
