wandering travel meaning

Definition of 'wander'

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wander in American English

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• wander aimlessly
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Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

By emily petsko | jun 13, 2022, 5:14 pm edt.

For those who travel, wanderlust is a familiar feeling. It’s that nagging voice in your head that says, “Yes, you do need to book that flight,” even if your bank account says otherwise. Regardless of how many passport covers this word may adorn, it doesn’t begin to cover the spectrum of emotions and experiences that can be revealed through the act of travel. Here are 30 travel words from around the world to keep in your back pocket as you're exploring this summer.

From the Latin vagari , meaning “to wander,” this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey . Nowadays, "vagaries" refer to unpredictable or erratic situations, but that doesn’t mean the old sense of the word can’t be invoked from time to time.

2. Selcouth

An Old English word that refers to something that’s both strange and marvelous . It's a great way to sum up those seemingly indescribable moments spent in an unfamiliar land.

Who hasn’t felt a strong desire to be somewhere—anywhere—other than where you currently are? That’s fernweh , or “ farsickness ," and this German word has been described as a cousin of wanderlust, another German loan word.

4. Dépaysement

Anyone who has traveled abroad will recognize this feeling. The French word refers to the sense of disorientation that often sets in when you step outside your comfort zone, such as when you leave your home country.

Another gift from the French, this word literally translates to “drift,” but thanks to some mid-20th century French philosophers, it can also refer to a spontaneous trip , completely free of plans, in which you let your surroundings guide you.

6. Peregrinate

To peregrinate is to travel from place to place, especially on foot. Its Latin root, peregrinus (meaning “foreign”), is also where the peregrine falcon (literally “ pilgrim falcon ”) gets its name.

7. Perambulate

Similar to peregrinate, this word essentially means to travel over or through an area by foot. So instead of saying that you’ll be walking around London, you can say you’ll be perambulating the city’s streets—much more sophisticated.

8. Numinous

This English word could appropriately be used to describe the Grand Canyon or the Northern Lights. Something numinous is awe-inspiring and mysterious. It's difficult to understand from a rational perspective, which gives it a spiritual or unearthly quality.

9. Peripatetic

The young and the restless will want to incorporate this word into their lexicon. The adjective refers to those who are constantly moving from place to place—in other words, a nomadic existence. It stems from the Greek word peripatein (“to walk up and down”), which was originally associated with Aristotle and the shaded walkways near his school (or, according to legend, his habit of pacing back and forth during lectures).

10. Waldeinsamkeit

You’re alone in a forest. It’s peaceful. The sun is filtering through the trees and there’s a light breeze. That’s waldeinsamkeit . (Literally "forest solitude." And yes, Germans have all the best travel words.)

11. Shinrin-Yoku

In a similar vein, this Japanese word means “ forest bathing ,” and it's considered a form of natural medicine and stress reliever. There are now forest bathing clubs around the world, but you can try it out for yourself on your next camping trip. Take deep breaths, close your eyes, and take in the smells and sounds of the forest. Simple.

12. Solivagant

In those moments when you just want to run away from your responsibilities, you may consider becoming a solivagant : a solo wanderer .

13. Yoko Meshi

This Japanese phrase literally translates to “ a meal eaten sideways ,” which is an apt way to describe the awkwardness of speaking in a foreign language that you haven’t quite mastered, especially over dinner.

14. Resfeber

You just booked your flight. Your heart starts racing. You’re a little nervous about your journey, but mostly you just can’t wait to get going. The anticipation, anxiety, and excitement you get before a big trip is all rolled into one word— resfeber —and you can thank the Swedes for it.

15. Flâneur

Taken from the French flâner , meaning to stroll or saunter , this word describes someone who has no particular plans or place they need to be. They merely stroll around the city at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights and enjoying the day as it unfolds.

16. Gadabout

This could be construed as the traditional English equivalent of flâneur . Likely stemming from the Middle English verb gadden , meaning “to wander without a specific aim or purpose,” a gadabout is one who frequently travels from place to place for the sheer fun of it. In other words: a modern-day backpacker.

17. Hiraeth

Sometimes, no matter how amazing your vacation may be, you just want to come home to your bed and cats. This Welsh word sums up the deep yearning for home that can strike without warning. As Gillian Thomas put it in an interview with the BBC , “Home sickness is too weak. You feel hiraeth , which is a longing of the soul to come home to be safe.”

This Japanese word can be taken to mean “graceful elegance” or “subtle mystery,” but it’s much more than that. It's when the beauty of the universe is felt most profoundly, awakening an emotional response that goes beyond words.

19. Schwellenangst

Translating to “ threshold anxiety ,” this German word sums up the fears that are present before you enter somewhere new—like a theater or an intimidating cafe—and by extension going anywhere unfamiliar. The fear of crossing a threshold is normal, even among the most adventurous of travelers—but it often leads to the most unforgettable experiences.

20. Commuovere

Have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry? That’s commuovere in action. The Italian word describes the feeling of being moved, touched, or stirred by something you witness or experience.

This Danish word refers to a warm feeling of contentedness and coziness, as well as the acknowledgment of that feeling. Although not explicitly related to this term, author Kurt Vonnegut summed up the idea behind this concept quite nicely when he said, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'"

22. Hanyauku

Here's one for those who have a beach trip coming up. Taken from Kwangali, a language spoken in Namibia, hanyauku is the act of tiptoeing across hot sand.

23. Smultronställe

This Swedish word translates to something along the lines of “place of wild strawberries,” but its metaphorical meaning is something along the lines of a "happy place." Whether it’s a hidden overlook of the city or your favorite vacation spot that hasn’t been “discovered” yet, smultronställe refers to those semi-secret places you return to time and time again because they’re special and personal to you.

24. Dustsceawung

This Old English word describes what might happen when you visit a place like Pompeii or a ghost town. While reflecting on past civilizations, you realize that everything will eventually turn to dust. A cheery thought.

25. Vacilando

In some Spanish dialects, the word vacilando describes someone who travels with a vague destination in mind but has no real incentive to get there. In other words, the journey is more important than the destination. As John Steinbeck described it in his travelogue Travels With Charley : “It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando , he is going somewhere, but doesn't greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. My friend Jack Wagner has often, in Mexico, assumed this state of being. Let us say we wanted to walk in the streets of Mexico city but not at random. We would choose some article almost certain not to exist there and then diligently try to find it.”

26. Lehitkalev

Backpackers and budget travelers, this one is for you: The Hebrew word lehitkalev translates to “dog it” and means to deal with uncomfortable living or travel arrangements.

27. Komorebi

This beautiful Japanese word is a good one to save for a sunny day spent in the woods. Komorebi translates to “sunshine filtering through the leaves.” Does it get any lovelier than that?

This Balinese word refers to something that is simultaneously chaotic and joyful. It isn’t specifically a travel word, but it does seem to fit the feelings that are often awakened by travel.

29. Trouvaille

Translating to a “lucky find,” this French word can be applied to that cool cafe, flower-lined street, or quirky craft store that you stumbled upon by chance. Indeed, these are the moments that make travel worthwhile.

30. Ullassa

Just in case you needed another reason to plan that trip to Yosemite, here's one last word for nature lovers. The Sanskrit word ullassa refers to the feelings of pleasantness that come from observing natural beauty in all its glory.

A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2022.

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Definition of wander verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• + adv./prep. She wandered aimlessly around the streets.
• We wandered back towards the car.
• wander something The child was found wandering the streets alone.
• Don't go wandering all over the house!
• He just wandered in one day and asked for a job.
• He wandered into a bar and ordered a drink.
• One day she wandered further afield.
• Simply wandering is a pleasure in itself.
• The cattle are allowed to wander freely.
• They found him wandering around aimlessly.
• Visitors are free to wander through the gardens and woods.
• Cattle and sheep wander freely on the hilltops.
• During the day I would wander the streets, asking passers-by for a few cents.
• He was found wandering in the road late one night.
• She had spent her life wandering from place to place.
• They spent a couple of hours wandering through the markets.
• disconsolately
• allow somebody/​something to
• let somebody/​something
• find somebody wandering

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• wander away/off The child wandered off and got lost.
• How could you let him wander off like that?
• wander from/off something They had wandered from the path into the woods.
• It's easy to be distracted and let your attention wander .
• Try not to let your mind wander .
• wander away, back, to, etc. something Her thoughts wandered back to her youth.
• Don’t wander off the subject—keep to the point.
• Lisa let her mind wander a little.
• His attention was beginning to wander.
• My thoughts wandered from the exam questions to my interview the next day.
• allow something to
• let something
• She let her gaze wander .
• + adv./prep. His eyes wandered towards the photographs on the wall.
• The road wanders along through the hills.

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Definition of wandering

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of wandering  (Entry 2 of 2)

• digressional
• digressionary

Examples of wandering in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wandering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wandering

wandering albatross

• wandering Jew
• wandering eye
• wandering dude

Dictionary Entries Near wandering

Cite this entry.

“Wandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wandering. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

Medical definition of wandering.

Medical Definition of wandering  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on wandering

Nglish: Translation of wandering for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wandering for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of wander – Learner’s Dictionary

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wander verb ( WALK )

Wander verb ( leave place ).

(Definition of wander from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of wander

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Word of the Day

a type of singing in which four, usually male, voices in close combination perform popular romantic songs, especially from the 1920s and 1930s

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• wander (WALK)
• wander (LEAVE PLACE)
• sb's attention/mind/thoughts, etc wander
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Wander or Wonder?

600+ Confusing Words Explained E-Book Let’s learn when to use wander vs. wonder. Should we say “I was wandering” or “I was wondering”?

Wander and wonder are two completely different words, but sometimes English learners confuse them because of their similar spelling and pronunciation.

For more simple and clear lessons about the differences between confusing words in English, get my e-book, 600+ Confusing English Words Explained!  These are words that English learners often ask me about, or often make mistakes with – and when you read this e-book, you can avoid those mistakes and use these words correctly.

Wander: meaning & examples

Wander is a physical activity.

It means to move around (usually walking) without a specific destination or purpose:

• On the first day of my trip, I spent a couple hours wandering around the city.
• We wandered through the park, looking at the flowers.
• I was wandering through the forest, enjoying the fresh air.

We typically wander around or wander through an area.

If you have small children or pets, you want to keep watching them to make sure they don’t  wander off  (meaning move away from you, without a specific definition). Note that it’s always  wander off,  never “wonder off.”

Wonder: Meaning & examples

Wonder is a mental activity.

It means to feel curiosity, to want to know something.

• I wonder what happened to my friend from elementary school? We haven’t been in touch for years.
• Your wife is wondering what time you’ll be home – please give her a call.
• I’m wondering whether the food at that restaurant is any good.

We typically use wonder + a question word or wonder + whether/if for situations that are “yes or no.”:

• I wonder when the supermarket closes. (Example answer: 6PM)
• I wonder if the supermarket is open right now. (Example answer: Yes)
• I’m wondering how he got that job without any experience.
• I’m wondering whether I should look for a new job.

Note: This is the verb form of “wonder.” There is also a noun form, which means “awe or admiration.”

Pronunciation of Wander and Wonder

The WAN of wander is like the WAN of “want.”

The WON of wonder is like the words “won” or “one.”

I hope you feel more confident in how to use wander vs. wonder and wandering vs. wondering!

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Shayna Oliveira is the founder of Espresso English, where you can improve your English fast - even if you don’t have much time to study. Millions of students are learning English from her clear, friendly, and practical lessons! Shayna is a CELTA-certified teacher with 10+ years of experience helping English learners become more fluent in her English courses.