Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense roams, present participle roaming, past tense, past participle roamed
verb
If you roam an area or roam around it, you wander or travel around it without having a particular purpose.
Barefoot children roamed the streets. [VERB noun]
They're roaming around the country shooting at anything that moves. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Farmers were encouraged to keep their livestock in pens rather than letting themroam freely. [VERB]
Synonyms: wander, walk, range, travel More Synonyms of roam
roam in British English
(rəʊm)
verb
1.
to travel or walk about with no fixed purpose or direction; wander
noun
2.
the act of roaming
Derived forms
roamer (ˈroamer)
noun
Word origin
C13: origin unknown
roam in American English
(roʊm)
verb intransitive
1.
to travel from place to place, esp. with no special plan or purpose; go aimlessly; wander
verb transitive
2.
to wander over or through
to roam the streets
noun
3.
the act of roaming; ramble
Derived forms
roamer (ˈroamer)
noun
Word origin
ME romen < or akin to OE aræman, to rise < IE *erei- < base *er-, to set in motion > rise, run
Examples of 'roam' in a sentence
roam
At least there will be no international roaming charges.
Computing (2010)
So he played him in a role that gave him the freedom to roam around the park.
The Sun (2016)
And now we hear that at night, there are actual wolves roaming the city streets looking for food.
The Sun (2017)
The game was hugely popular in the first couple of months, with hordes of players roaming the streets with eyes fixed to their phone screens.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Both tribes will find much to savour, especially when the virtual reality is up and running and visitors can roam around some of the paintings themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They roam about in early autumn looking for somewhere to settle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There were hundreds of pupils roaming around.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The animals that roamed this area were diverse and fierce.
Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
Similar action is being taken over mobile roaming charges.
The Sun (2013)
Yet the police and security services let him roam the streets with impunity.
The Sun (2013)
They still roam as free as the wind.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
The last thing you want is an angry ex roaming around online spitting venom about you.
The Sun (2012)
No caps on roaming charges are applied to other overseas destinations.
The Sun (2016)
Yet he is free to roam the streets.
The Sun (2012)
These almost empty mountains where wolves and bears still roam are remote only because nobody comes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why should they be allowed to roam the streets like feral beasts?
The Sun (2009)
Their aim is to carry out forensic tests on the beast to find out more about the area it once roamed.
The Sun (2014)
After that normal roaming charges apply.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
While some roads are rough and animals roam freely, the atmosphere is convivial during the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
While during the day you can roam fairly freely, the short nights are hazardous.
The Sun (2015)
So they decided to take them to an uninhabited planet that would serve as an asylum and where they could roam free and act goofy.
Christianity Today (2000)
What about mobile roaming charges?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
roam
British English: roam VERB
If you roam an area or roam around it, you wander or travel around it without having a particular purpose.
Barefoot children roamed the streets.
American English: roam
Brazilian Portuguese: vagar
Chinese: 闲逛
European Spanish: vagar
French: errer
German: durchstreifen
Italian: vagabondare
Japanese: うろうろする
Korean: 배회하다
European Portuguese: vagar
Latin American Spanish: vagar
Chinese translation of 'roam'
roam
(rəum)
vi
漫无(無)目的地走动(動) (màn wú mùdì de zǒudòng)
vt
[streets, countryside]漫步 (mànbù)
(verb)
Definition
to walk about with no fixed purpose or direction
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
Synonyms
wander
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
walk
They walked in silence for a while.
range
They range widely in search of carrion.
travel
You can travel to Helsinki tomorrow.
drift
People drifted around the room.
stroll
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
stray
A railway line crosses the park so children must not be allowed to stray.
ramble
freedom to ramble across the moors
prowl
The stray dogs of the city prowl in packs in search of food.
meander
We meandered along the Irish country roads.
rove
roving about the town in the dead of night
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
peregrinate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drift
Definition
to move aimlessly from one place or activity to another
People drifted around the room.
Synonyms
wander,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
meander,
rove,
range,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of meander
Definition
to wander without definite aim or direction
We meandered along the Irish country roads.
Synonyms
wander,
stroll,
stray,
drift,
ramble,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of prowl
Definition
to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder
The stray dogs of the city prowl in packs in search of food.
Synonyms
move stealthily,
hunt,
patrol,
range,
steal,
cruise,
ghost,
stalk,
sneak,
lurk,
roam,
rove,
scavenge,
slink,
skulk,
nose around
Synonyms of 'roam'
roam
Explore 'roam' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ramble
Definition
to walk for relaxation, sometimes with no particular direction
freedom to ramble across the moors
Synonyms
walk,
range,
drift,
wander,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
rove,
amble,
saunter,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
perambulate,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of range
Definition
to roam (over)
They range widely in search of carrion.
Synonyms
roam,
explore,
wander,
rove,
sweep,
cruise,
stroll,
ramble,
traverse,
go walkabout (Australian)
in the sense of rove
Definition
to wander about (a place)
roving about the town in the dead of night
Synonyms
wander,
range,
cruise,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
ramble,
meander,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
gallivant,
gad about,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of stray
Definition
to wander away from the correct path or from a given area
A railway line crosses the park so children must not be allowed to stray.
Synonyms
wander,
roam,
go astray,
range,
drift,
meander,
rove,
straggle,
lose your way,
be abandoned or lost,
stra
in the sense of stroll
Definition
to walk about in a leisurely manner
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
Synonyms
walk,
ramble,
amble,
wander,
promenade,
saunter,
stooge (slang),
take a turn,
toddle,
make your way,
mooch (slang),
mosey (informal),
stretch your legs
in the sense of travel
Definition
to go or journey through or across (an area, region, etc.)