See wander in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms
wander ramble roam rove 1range meander stray gallivant gad 1
These verbs mean to move about at random or without destination or purpose. Wander and ramble stress the absence of a fixed course or goal: wandered down the hall lost in thought. “They would go off together, rambling along the river” (John Galsworthy).
Roam and rove emphasize freedom of movement, often over a wide area: “Herds of horses and cattle roamed at will over the plain” (George W. Cable). “For ten long years I roved about, living first in one capital, then another” (Charlotte Brontë).
Range suggests wandering in all directions: “a large hunting party known to be ranging the prairie” (Francis Parkman).
Meander suggests leisurely wandering over an irregular or winding course: “He meandered to and fro . . . observing the manners and customs of Hillport society” (Arnold Bennett).
Stray refers to deviation from a proper course: “I ask pardon, I am straying from the question” (Oliver Goldsmith).
Gallivant refers to wandering in search of pleasure: gallivanted all over the city during our visit.
Gad suggests restlessness: gadded about unaccompanied in foreign places.
See wander in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To move about at random, especially over a wide area:
drift, gad, gallivant, meander, peregrinate, ramble, range, roam, rove, stray, traipse. See moveTo walk at a leisurely pace:
amble, meander, perambulate, promenade, ramble, saunter, stroll. (Informal) mosey. See moveTo turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking:
deviate, digress, divagate, diverge, ramble, stray. Idiom: go off at (or on) a tangent. See approach
noun
An act of walking, especially for pleasure:
amble, meander (often used in plural), perambulation, promenade, ramble, saunter, stroll, walk. See move
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