meander

1 of 2

noun

me·​an·​der mē-ˈan-dər How to pronounce meander (audio)
1
: a winding path or course
the new path, which he supposed only to make a few meandersSamuel Johnson
especially : labyrinth
2
: a turn or winding of a stream
The meander eventually became isolated from the main stream.
meandrous adjective

meander

2 of 2

verb

meandered; meandering mē-ˈan-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce meander (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to follow a winding or intricate course
across the ceiling meandered a long crackJohn Galsworthy
2
: to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble
he meandered with the sightseers gawping at the boat peopleJohn le Carré

Did you know?

Meander comes from Greek Maiandros, an old name for a winding river in Asia Minor that is now known as the Menderes. Despite this origin, the word is more commonly used to refer to a person's wandering course than a river's.

Choose the Right Synonym for meander

wander, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose.

wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Examples of meander in a Sentence

Verb The path meanders through the garden. We meandered around the village. The conversation meandered on for hours.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Get Out of Your Car The Fort Bottom Trail is a 3.4-mile out and back that leaves White Rim Road at mile 65 and meanders across the slickrock to the ruins of a stone structure built by the indigenous people that inhabited the area hundreds of years ago. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2025 Brazilian designer Cris Porto brought the meanders of the Amazon River, the crystalline waters of the Maldives — and dozens of hues of tourmalines, the star product from her home state of Minas Gerais. Lily Templeton, WWD, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
Far below, waves lashed Punta Chiappa, a rugged promontory that stretches from the base of Monte di Portofino into the sea. From San Rocco, the trail meandered past a cluster of tidy houses, their gardens fragrant with rosemary and citrus, before plunging into the forest. Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025 Oregon would meander through the early months of the season, then gather steam in February and enter the NCAA Tournament on the short list of teams nobody wanted to play. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meander

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Latin maeander, from Greek maiandros, from Maiandros (now Menderes), river in Asia Minor

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meander was in 1599

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Cite this Entry

“Meander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meander. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

meander

1 of 2 noun
me·​an·​der mē-ˈan-dər How to pronounce meander (audio)
1
: a turn or winding of a stream
2
: a winding path or course

meander

2 of 2 verb
meandered; meandering
-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to follow a winding or complicated course
2
: to wander without a goal or purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on meander

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