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ramble

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verb

1
as in to rattle
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to stroll
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ramble contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ramble are meander, roam, rove, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When could meander be used to replace ramble?

In some situations, the words meander and ramble are roughly equivalent. However, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

When might roam be a better fit than ramble?

While the synonyms roam and ramble are close in meaning, roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When is it sensible to use rove instead of ramble?

Although the words rove and ramble have much in common, rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is traipse a more appropriate choice than ramble?

The words traipse and ramble are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Where would wander be a reasonable alternative to ramble?

The synonyms wander and ramble are sometimes interchangeable, but wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ramble
Noun
Stephen’s subsequent apology ends in a weird ramble about homewrecking women wanting to suck the dicks of guys who go on reality TV. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 As in his rallies, Trump rambles, his writing hard to follow. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2024
Verb
Trump’s speeches at rallies, especially of late, are rambling to the point of being incomprehensible. Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Maybe Trump actually is the candidate most Americans want to see lead the country and his decision to play tunes for a night instead of delivering the same rambling speech matches where voters are. Philip Elliott, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ramble 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramble
Noun
  • The money will pay for airfare, cultural excursions, transportation, food and hotel accommodations.
    La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
  • While excursions span from mokoro canoe voyages to helicopter safari drives, the property has also mastered the art of elegant design, with furniture and artwork sourced from 80 different artisans across the continent.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Dae-ho served in the military like Jung-bae, but the gunfire rattles him immensely.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Colombia rattled the hosts by pressing high upfield, wanting to force nervous defenders into turnovers and beat them on the break.
    Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • After years of wandering through the desert, Texas finally got this right.
    Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Visitors are invited to park their cars and wander up the driveway to see cartoon characters and creatures heralding festive cheer.
    Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Cool for the Winter James Marsden strolls around New York City's Midtown in a denim coat and shades on Dec. 18.
    Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • And to top it all off, a second cat, an all-black one, strolls up at sunrise, getting a second breakfast.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Situated along the eastern edge of Stanton Park, the home was a short jaunt to the United States Capitol.
    Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The jaunt includes attractive vistas of the river as well as both cities and the surrounding hills.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Take a walk on the iconic pier to fish or people-watch.
    Judy Garrison, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Brandt recommends taking kids on a nature walk to gather seasonal decor for the house.
    Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 25 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Thomas’ ancestors historically roamed throughout the Southwest.
    Cy Neff, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024
  • The cayos—or keys—are plops of milky sand ringed by bright verdigris; the waters are roaming territory for squid, turtles, pelicans, and iguanas.
    Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On Thursday night, a procession of Hollywood's most elite members sauntered up the brick driveway—covered in a beige color carpet—of the Chateau Marmont and were transported to the luxurious world of iconic designer Brunello Cucinelli.
    Paul Chi, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
  • In this rematch, Metcalf will return from a knee injury that cost him two games, and the 49ers’ cornerbacks will be led by Lenoir, who saunters in fresh off Wednesday’s contract extension (five years, $92 million).
    Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near ramble

Cite this Entry

“Ramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramble. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

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