stray
stray
Stray (verb) means to wander away from where you should be, or to drift off a planned path or topic. Example: “The dog strayed from the yard and wandered into town.”
verb
1
To wander away from where you should be, or to drift off a planned path or topic.
"The dog strayed from the yard and wandered into town."
"The conversation strayed far from the original question."
"Please do not stray from the group while we walk through the busy market."
adj
1
Having wandered off, or found somewhere it doesn't belong.
"They took in a stray cat that kept showing up on the porch."
"A stray bullet shattered the window."
"A stray sock was lying under the sofa after the washing was done."
How to use stray
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wander off course, or (as an adjective) something/someone lost or out of place, like a stray animal.
Common pairings
stray dog
stray bullet
stray from the topic
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- strays
- Past tense
- strayed
- Comparative
- more stray, strayer
- Superlative
- strayest, most stray
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog _____ from the yard and wandered into town.
Etymology
From Old French estraier, tied to the idea of wandering off the main road ("strata"), and blended with an Old English word meaning to scatter.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stray
See all rhymes for stray →Frequently asked questions
What does “stray” mean?
The word “stray” means to wander away from where you should be, or to drift off a planned path or topic. In plain terms, to wander off course, or (as an adjective) something/someone lost or out of place, like a stray animal.
How do you pronounce “stray”?
“Stray” is pronounced stray (/stɹeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “stray” in a sentence?
Here is “stray” used in a sentence: “The dog strayed from the yard and wandered into town.”
What part of speech is “stray”?
Depending on how it is used, “stray” can be a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “stray” come from?
The word “stray” comes from Old French. From Old French estraier, tied to the idea of wandering off the main road ("strata"), and blended with an Old English word meaning to scatter.
Is “stray” a common word?
“Stray” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “stray” have?
“Stray” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to wander away from where you should be, or to drift off a planned path or topic.
What is the difference between a stray animal and a wild animal?
A stray animal is one that has wandered away from an owner or home and is found somewhere it doesn't belong, meaning it was once cared for by humans. A wild animal, by contrast, has never been owned or domesticated in the first place.
Can stray be used for something other than animals?
Yes, stray can describe anyone or anything that wanders away from where it should be, such as a stray bullet, a stray comment, or a person who strays off a planned path or topic.
Is stray used differently as a verb versus an adjective?
As a verb, stray describes the action of wandering off, as in 'the dog strayed from the yard.' As an adjective, it describes the resulting state, as in 'a stray dog' or 'a stray hair,' meaning something found out of place.
