wanderlust

noun

wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst 

: strong longing for or impulse toward wandering

Did you know?

Wanderlust Has German Roots

"For my part," writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." Sounds like a case of wanderlust if we ever heard one. Those with wanderlust don't necessarily need to go anywhere in particular; they just don't care to stay in one spot. The etymology of wanderlust is a very simple one that you can probably figure out yourself. Wanderlust is a lust for wandering. The word comes from German, in which wandern means "to hike or roam about," and Lust means "pleasure or delight."

Examples of wanderlust in a Sentence

Wanderlust has led him to many different parts of the world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether booking spontaneous weekend getaways or planning a cross-country road trip, Venus in Sagittarius evokes a sense of wanderlust while bringing out your inner explorer. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Mermaids, octopi, and shells at Etro, Tory Burch, and Chloé were expressive of a collective sense of wanderlust focused on ocean-side adventures. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024

By the 17th, Venus in Sagittarius will be in your ninth house, inspiring you with wanderlust and a desire for spontaneity in your love life. —Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024

Disney’s 'The Little Mermaid' May 22-July 13, 2025 A mermaid with wanderlust falls head over heels for a prince and makes a deal with a sea witch to acquire human legs. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German, from wandern to wander + Lust desire, pleasure

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wanderlust

noun

wan·​der·​lust ˈwän-dər-ˌləst 

: strong longing to travel