wander1 verbwander2 noun
wanderwan‧der1 /ˈwɒndə $ ˈwɑːndər/ ●●○ S3 verb 
WORD ORIGINwander
Origin:
Old English wandrianVERB TABLE
wander
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wander |
| he, she, it | wanders | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | wandered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have wandered |
| he, she, it | has wandered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had wandered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wander |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have wandered |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am wandering |
| he, she, it | is wandering | |
| you, we, they | are wandering | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was wandering |
| you, we, they | were wandering | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been wandering |
| he, she, it | has been wandering | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been wandering |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be wandering |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been wandering |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After dinner Carol left the hotel to wander the crowded streets.
- For an hour and a half we wandered around the old city, totally lost.
- She may have wandered off and become lost.
- We wandered along the river bank, looking for a place to cross.
- With their parents at work, the kids are left to wander the streets.
- But the gates were open, and she wandered in, seeking shade.
- He wandered an area of refrigerated warehouses with old dual-gauge tracks intersecting on the cobbled streets.
- I'd wander down the high street, frittering away on whatever took my fancy.
- She wandered into the kitchen, pleased with her work, relieved too that Luke didn't seem to be about.
- She leaves the coach and wanders through fields for many miles until between trees she sees a deep black pool of water.
- Then she wanders the deserted basement halls.
- We wandered on, leaving the mules to catch up.
THESAURUS
to move forward by putting one foot in front of the other: · I missed the bus so I decided to walk.· We’ve walked about eight miles today.
to walk without any clear purpose or direction: · They wandered around the narrow streets of the old city.
to walk with long steps in a determined, confident, or angry way: · A man in a suit came striding purposefully into the hall.· She strode onto the stage and began to address the audience.
to walk first in one direction and then in another many times, especially because you are nervous: · Nick was pacing up and down, waiting for the phone to ring.
to walk quickly with firm regular steps – used especially about soldiers or someone who is angry: · The troops marched past with smart uniforms and good discipline.· Sheila marched into the office and demanded an apology.
to walk through deep water: · We had to wade across the river.
to walk putting your feet down very hard, especially because you are angry: · She turned and stomped off without looking back.
Longman Language Activatorto walk without going in one particular direction also walk round British · I keep seeing these two strange men walking around. I'm sure they're up to something.· We walked round the market for a while, and then we went to the beach.
to walk around with no particular aim and in no particular direction, especially in a place you do not know or when you are lost: wander about/around/through etc: · For an hour and a half we wandered around the old city, totally lost.· We wandered along the river bank, looking for a place to cross.wander the streets/hills/town etc: · After dinner Carol left the hotel to wander the crowded streets.
to walk around freely and with no particular aim: roam about/around/over etc: · Tourists love roaming about the old town.· Great herds of wild deer roam freely over the hills.roam the streets/desert/hills etc: · Residents of the Red Hall estate claim to be living in fear of gangs who roam the streets after dark.
to quietly walk around an area or building, trying not to be seen or heard, especially in order to steal something or attack someone: prowl around/round: · Several wolves prowled round the camp, but were kept at bay by the fire.· The babysitter said she could hear someone prowling around in the garden.prowl the streets/neighbourhood/city etc: · Police have warned the public that the killer may still be prowling the streets.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
She wandered aimlessly about the house. He was found wandering the streets of New York. Be careful, he’s got wandering hands.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I spent a happy afternoon wandering around the shops.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
She wandered aimlessly about the house. He was found wandering the streets of New York. Be careful, he’s got wandering hands. (=someone stops listening, watching etc carefully)· During the service, her mind began to wander.
I spent a happy afternoon wandering around the shops.· He wandered aimlessly on from one squalid street to another.· By wandering aimlessly, all places became equal, and it no longer mattered where he was.· She wandered aimlessly along until a red and silver taxi cruised past.· One night, he stumbled out of his house in the Los Gatos hills, wandering aimlessly.· Charles wandered aimlessly through Leicester Square to Piccadilly.· A few years ago my friend Tim Hult and I spent one steamy-hot and jet-lagged afternoon wandering aimlessly around Bangkok.· He'd done no more than accidentally bump against some sailors aimlessly wandering from the passage next to the warehouse.· The ride back to the city seemed interminable, and he found himself wandering aimlessly.
· Jessamy picked them up, wandered through to the kitchen and put them on the table.· She leaves the coach and wanders through fields for many miles until between trees she sees a deep black pool of water.· Finally he wandered through into the kitchen, pulled off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair.· His mind used to wander through that garden as if exploring a new world born from a collision of stars.· Eric wandered through, he of the seagull, with a book.· He wandered through the station, then, as if inside the body of Paul Auster, waiting for Stillman to appear.· A unique collection for research, and a place people can wander through for peace and tranquility.· I began to wander through the room from object to object.
NOUN· But then, it seems, their attention wandered.· The staff would provide him with toys to amuse himself with when his attention began to wander.· So much discussion of disruption loses its way with attention wandering from one priority to another.· Wickham had heard all this before and his attention wandered.· During the sermon Sarah's attention wandered.· He leaned back and allowed his attention to wander.· Her attention didn't wander one bit.
· Other children were left to wander home in the dark.· BWithout alarm clocks or anyone to wake them up, the children often wander into class late.· Ducks, sheep, donkeys and children wander along the alleyways.· Her parents would have been children when he wandered past their door.
· I wandered ail over the city, getting lost then finding myself again where I had started.· For two days I wandered through the city.· Guks spent the afternoon wandering about the city, looking at the bombed buildings, avoiding groups of soldiers.
· He missed wandering about the corridors but the thought of walking made his feet throb and ache even more.· At six, I wandered out into the corridor.· He wandered along the brighter corridors near Nettles looking for a good place to plant his seeds.· He shakes his head again in horror and wanders back along the corridor in silence.· It seemed Blunset was still wandering through the corridors and Endill looked forward to their next meeting.· So I wandered round the corridors of Hampton Court.· The Doctor had wandered along a shadowy corridor.· Could I really be replaced so easily, I wondered as I left the toilets and wandered out into the corridor.
· For six years you wander the desert from level to pale level.
· The next day they wandered out of the kitchen garden.· His mind used to wander through that garden as if exploring a new world born from a collision of stars.· Henry lets me wander in her garden.· The twins had wandered out of the rectory garden and had been missing for twenty minutes.· They wandered parks and gardens and fed already overfed white pigeons in the Plaza de América.
· It ceased abruptly and her gaze left his to wander down his body, stopping only to rest upon his nakedness.· Yet when he spoke of himself, his gaze frequently wandered, as though in search of visual ballast.· Tallis watched them, then let her gaze wander along the stark crags and jutting masonry walls.· Her gaze wandered back to Marcus's.· His gaze wandered around her little studio flat.· His gaze wandered over the flags, tapestries and shields adorning the walls.
· We'd wander round the house as we rambled conversationally.· Otis was wandering around the house with a miniature billiard ball in his mouth.· George let his mind wander over the House.· I wonder whether any of the clapboard houses I wander past is the house where it happened, where All killed herself.· You wander about the house like a soul in torment.· He was talking to one of his girlfriends, wandering the house, phone to his ear.· The two-year-old wandered out the house at dawn dressed in mum Michelle's high heels and nightie.· Paul wandered around the house a lot these days.
· The next day they wandered out of the kitchen garden.· She wandered into the kitchen, pleased with her work, relieved too that Luke didn't seem to be about.· He wandered out into the kitchen and took a pint of milk from the fridge, supping straight from the bottle.· Jessamy picked them up, wandered through to the kitchen and put them on the table.· He wandered into the kitchen, where he found a freshly-brewed pot of tea.· She studied the envelopes as she wandered into the kitchen to make breakfast.· Finally he wandered through into the kitchen, pulled off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair.· I wandered into the kitchen and made some coffee.
· George let his mind wander over the House.· His mind used to wander through that garden as if exploring a new world born from a collision of stars.· His mind and spirit wandered far from the crowd of contemporary detail.· I pause, my mind wandering, when out of the haze of heat and depression I notice the name Liliane.· Jean tried to concentrate as he went on with his list of symptoms, but her mind kept wandering elsewhere.· He began to read the story, but his mind wandered.· Thus occupied on this repetitive job, the mind is free to wander and daydream.· Each time the mind wanders it is gently brought back to the repetition.
· Soon she grew bored with watching and wandered away down the path towards the road.· Yolanda and Jose, partners, wander far from the path that cuts through the grove.· Jane had only found the place by wandering from the path and getting lost.· He wandered down the wrong path.· We wander down the paths the students have created and lined with wood chips.
· George Borrow was to wander many roads before being invited back to his father's home county.· All of us seemed to wander down the road, but we wandered purposefully.· You wander hopelessly along the road, then, frightened, back into the village.· They remind you of a bunch of schoolboys wandering down a lonely road, kicking a ball along.· Before she knew where she was going, she'd wandered to the road.· A distraction may cause it to wander off into the road, with fatal consequences.
· The house seemed to put comforting arms around her, as she wandered from room to room.· Christine wanders back into the room.· Supposedly, he wandered into a darkened room and banged his head on a cupboard.· But give them a math problem, and they wander around the room, daydream, or fidget.· Some of the crime is committed by opportunists who wander into students rooms and take cash and credit cards.· I wandered to the back room.· He pushed his chair back and wandered around the room.· Sun-bleached surfers rub elbows at the bar, and stray toddlers wander through the dining rooms.
· However much she may enjoy such pursuits, there will be times when she would actually rather wander the streets unaccompanied.· They seldom wander past the streets and neighborhoods they know.· Male speaker I fear for Birmingham with this madman let loose, wandering around the streets frightening the children.· Charles wandered the streets in a daze.· Children as young as 2 or 3 wander the streets alone.· In the meantime, he wandered the streets, wheeling an oxygen tank he needed to treat his emphysema, Ewing said.· I'd wander down the high street, frittering away on whatever took my fancy.· Chickens and roosters wander the streets like they own the place.
· Susan let her shaping thoughts wander around the Temple.· His thoughts seemed to wander out of control ... They were watching him.· In normal circumstances, Melissa would have found him stimulating company but that evening she found her thoughts constantly wandering.· At this point, as often happened, his thoughts wandered off into irrelevant philosophical channels.· At the thought two miserable tears wandered down her face.
· In the evening, some of Major and Mrs Parker's guests wandered off into town.· Only poor artisans, likewise, carried all their gear on their backs and wandered through towns and countryside looking for work.· Having found a comfortable Gasthof in the suburb of Spitalhof, I passed a few hours wandering the old town.· Every time you looked up, there seemed to be some former Soviet republic wandering into town for a match.· After they left the café they wandered round the town for a while longer, but Claudia began to feel very weary.
· He wandered out of the village and up the mountain, weeping and wondering what he could possibly do.· I wandered through a poverty-stricken village in the countryside, flies swarming over me under a baking sun.· Nearby, at Buckler's Hard, we wandered in the village where Lord Nelson's wooden warships were built.· Charles wandered slowly up the village street in search of his valise.
· The prince wandered the wilderness for many years.
· That, his day's toil having been deferred, he wanders through unfamiliar woods with unsure footsteps.· For ten years they wandered in those woods searching for a lost treasure.
VERB· He needn't think he was going to be allowed to wander.· Just imagine, if you can, if the flesh of this country were allowed to wander around promiscuously!· There was no way he could allow Boris to wander round unguarded with plates of zakuski.· The chairman must not allow the discussion to wander into other subjects unless there is a direct relevance.· When she had finished, she allowed her eyes to wander round the area of the altar.· The Lady Amelia would never allow you to go wandering off by yourself.· As you explore your hand, allow your mind to wander over the significance of all its markings.· Physical safety might include not being allowed to wander into dangerous surroundings, or to bathe in scalding hot water.
· I found myself wandering round with a wry smile on my face and occasionally bursting into laughter at my own presumption.· A man found her wandering around and took her to the park ranger, who called the police.· She found herself wandering, thinking about Pet.· The ride back to the city seemed interminable, and he found himself wandering aimlessly.· Usually, I find myself wandering half-heartedly around the rails hoping some fabulous garment will leap out and grab me.· The king, trying to find the falcon, wandered in the castle.· She was found wandering at a golf course, near Stockport, Cheshire, on Monday.
· People like Billy Crystal and Spike Lee kept wandering in.· I felt there must be something wrong with me, and I kept wandering.· He keeps wandering into minor subplots, about a flamenco dancer and a dancing doctors demonstration.
· Henry lets me wander in her garden.· It is a ship to let your eyes wander over, from the lovely carpets to the decorative ceilings.· It was definitely not a night to let a friend wander around in a drunken stupor searching for his car.· Susan let her shaping thoughts wander around the Temple.· George let his mind wander over the House.· Male speaker I fear for Birmingham with this madman let loose, wandering around the streets frightening the children.· Tallis watched them, then let her gaze wander along the stark crags and jutting masonry walls.· Handlers guided it down the ramp with ropes and then let it wander away rather unsteadily.
· Eve had spent the day wandering around Dublin with a heavy heart.· I told him about the couple of hours I had spent wandering around Copacabana Beach.· Guks spent the afternoon wandering about the city, looking at the bombed buildings, avoiding groups of soldiers.· He spent his days wandering around the rugby pitches doing nothing and refused to return to his cottage.· Explorer-anthropologist Martin Gray has spent 12 years wandering through 800 sacred sites scattered around the globe.· The afternoon was spent in Winchester wandering around the shops and going to the cathedral.· He spends his nights wandering around the streets of Gloucester offering them blankets and hot soup.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1without direction [intransitive, transitive] to walk slowly across or around an area, usually without a clear direction or purposewander in/through/around etc- My mind is wandering, as Isabel has said, I forget things.
- Paul finds his mind is wandering, thinking about the poll tax program again.
- I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. What did you say?
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.► see thesaurus at walk2move away [intransitive] (also wander off) to walk away from where you are supposed to stay: Don’t let any of the kids wander off.3mind/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.4conversation [intransitive] to start to talk about something not related to the main subject that you were talking about beforewander from/off Pauline started to wander from the point.5somebody’s mind is wandering used to say that someone has become unable to think clearly, especially because they are old6eyes [intransitive] if your eyes or your gaze wander, you look around slowly at different things or at all parts of something: His gaze wandered round the room.7road/river [intransitive] if a road or a river wanders somewhere, it does not go straight but in curves SYN meanderwander through/across/along The Missouri River wanders across several states.8hands [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.wander1 verbwander2 noun
wanderwander2 noun [singular] British English THESAURUS
noun [countable] a journey that you make on foot, especially for exercise or enjoyment: · I took the dog out for a long walk in the fresh air.· We went for some lovely walks.· Do you fancy going out for a walk?
noun [countable] a long walk in the mountains or countryside: · We went for a hike in the woods.· There are some good hikes nearby.
noun [singular] a slow, relaxed walk: · Let’s take a stroll in the park.· We went for a stroll along the river.
British English a short relaxed walk, especially to look around a place: · We had a wander round the town and then went to the beach.
noun [singular] used when talking about a long walk in the mountains, countryside etc which lasts for several days and which you do for pleasure. Also used about a long tiring walk somewhere, which you do not want to have to do: · They went on a three week trek in the Atlas Mountains.· We then had a long trek back to our hotel with all our luggage.
[singular] a long, tiring, and unpleasant walk, which continues for several hours: · It was a dreary slog over bleak and windswept hills.
noun [countable] an occasion when a group of people walk somewhere together, in order to protest about something: · Demonstrators are planning a march through the capital.· a peace march
WORD SETSairbed, nounalbum, nounamusement arcade, nounamusement park, nounaquarium, nounarcade, nounauditorium, nounbachelor party, nounball, nounballoon, nounballroom, nounballroom dancing, nounbank holiday, nounbanquet, nounbanqueting hall, nounbarhop, verbbash, nounbask, verbbean feast, nounbeauty contest, nounbeer mat, nounblock party, nounboathouse, nounbon vivant, nounbooking, nounbooze-up, nounbop, nounbouncer, nounbrasserie, nounbumper car, nounbus, verbcafé, nouncaff, nouncanteen, nouncard, nouncarnival, nouncarousel, nouncarry-out, nouncarvery, nouncassette player, nouncassette recorder, nounceilidh, nounchannel surfing, nouncheckroom, nouncircus, nouncloakroom, nounclosing time, nounclubbing, nouncoconut shy, nouncoffee house, nouncoffee shop, nouncommunity centre, nouncomp, nounconcession stand, nouncounty fair, nouncracker, noundating agency, nounday camp, noundesignated driver, noundinner dance, noundinner party, noundisco, noundiscotheque, noundive, noundiversion, noundivert, verbdo, noundoor prize, noundrinks party, nouneat, verbfad, nounfandango, nounfanzine, nounflower arranging, nounfootpath, nounfree house, noungame, nounget-together, nounhappy hour, nounholdall, nounhouse party, nounice skate, nounice-skate, verbjukebox, nounjumble, nounjumble sale, nounknitting needle, nounleisure centre, nounlending library, nounlounge, nounlounge bar, nounmacramé, nounmask, nounmasked ball, nounmasquerade, nounmaster of ceremonies, nounmatador, nounmaypole, nounMC, nounmen's room, nounmerrymaking, nounmixer, nounnightclub, nounnightlife, nounnight spot, nounoffice party, nounopening time, nounopen mike, nounorgy, nounouting, nounpageant, nounpageantry, nounPancake Day, nounparty, nounparty, verbparty favor, nounparty piece, nounpeepshow, nounpep rally, nounperm, verbpetting zoo, nounPG, nounpinball, nounpitch, nounpizzeria, nounpony-trekking, nounpostprandial, adjectivepress, nounpub, nounpub-crawl, nounpublican, nounpublic bar, nounquality time, nounquiz, nounR & R, nounradio-cassette player, nounraffle, nounraffle, verbrave, nounrecreation, nounrecreation room, nounrelaxation, nounrendezvous, nounrest room, nounrevel, verbreveller, nounrevelry, nounrifle range, nounroadhouse, nounroast, nounrodeo, nounRollerblade, nounroller skate, nounround, nounsaloon, nounsauna, nounset, adjectiveshooting gallery, nounshower, nounsideshow, nounsiesta, nounsingalong, nounsingsong, nounskinny-dipping, nounsnack bar, nounsnug, nounsocial, nounsoda fountain, nounsoiree, nounsolarium, nounspectator, nounspree, nounsteakhouse, nounstrip club, nounstrip joint, nounstripper, nounstrip show, nounstriptease, nounsummer camp, nounsummer holidays, nounsummer vacation, nounsunbed, nounsunlamp, nountable d'hôte, nountavern, nounteahouse, nountearoom, nountea shop, nountheme party, nounthree-star, adjectivetop table, nountrophy, nounTurkish bath, nounvacation, nounvideo arcade, nounwander, nounwassail, verbweekend, verbweekender, nounwindow-shopping, nounwomen's room, nounworkbasket, nounzoo, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I had a bit of a wander round the shops.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I spent a happy afternoon wandering around the shops.
I had a bit of a wander round the shops. (=someone stops listening, watching etc carefully)· During the service, her mind began to wander.
I spent a happy afternoon wandering around the shops.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a short relaxed walk SYN strolltake/go for/have a wander- I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. What did you say?
I had a bit of a wander round the shops.