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adj Common

wandering

WON-duh-rihng

Wandering (adj) means moving from place to place without a settled route or home. Example: “A wandering musician passed through the village every summer.”

adj
1
Moving from place to place without a settled route or home.
"A wandering musician passed through the village every summer."
noun
1
Travel or movement without a fixed plan; roaming.
"Years of wandering finally brought her back to her hometown."
2
Aimless or unfocused thought.
"His essay suffered from constant wandering off-topic."

How to use wandering

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRoaming around without a fixed route, home, or focus.

Common pairings
wandering minstrel years of wandering wandering thoughts

Word forms

wanderings plural

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A _____ musician passed through the village every summer.

Etymology

From wander + -ing.

Related words

Rhymes for wandering

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Frequently asked questions

What does “wandering” mean?

The word “wandering” means moving from place to place without a settled route or home. In plain terms, roaming around without a fixed route, home, or focus.

How do you pronounce “wandering”?

“Wandering” is pronounced WON-duh-rihng (/ˈwɑndəɹɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “wandering” in a sentence?

Here is “wandering” used in a sentence: “A wandering musician passed through the village every summer.”

What part of speech is “wandering”?

Depending on how it is used, “wandering” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “wandering” a common word?

“Wandering” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “wandering” have?

“Wandering” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: moving from place to place without a settled route or home.

What is the difference between wandering and wondering?

Wandering means moving from place to place without a settled route or destination, while wondering means thinking curiously or questioning something in your mind. The two words sound similar but are unrelated in meaning, and confusing them is a common spelling mistake.

Is wandering used as an adjective or a noun?

Wandering can function as either an adjective, describing something moving without a settled route, as in "a wandering traveler," or as a noun, referring to the act of roaming itself, as in "years of wandering." The correct form depends on whether it is describing a person or thing versus naming the activity.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary