Meander
verb / noun /mɪˈændər/ — To wander without urgency — following the path of least resistance.
Definition
To follow a winding course; to wander without fixed direction, especially in a relaxed or aimless way; (noun) a winding curve or bend in a river.
Beyond the definition
Rivers meander. Conversations meander. Lives meander. The word names purposelessness without condemning it — a meander isn't a mistake, it's a form of movement that doesn't know in advance where it's going. The great rivers of the world meander as they mature; the straightened ones run faster but flood more.
Origin & history
From the Maeander (now Büyük Menderes) river in ancient Lydia (modern Turkey), famous for its winding course. The river name became the verb.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
They meandered through the afternoon, no destination in mind, ending up somewhere better than planned.
The conversation meandered pleasantly through three continents before arriving, somehow, at the point.
The river meandered through the valley, widening at each bend, taking the long way as rivers do.
Synonyms
wander, ramble, drift, amble, stray
Antonyms
rush, charge, march, beeline
Related words
Meander vs wander
Wander implies movement without a specific destination. Meander describes following a winding or indirect course, often used for streams or people walking leisurely without focus.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Stream flowing over stones
A stream flows in a winding, gentle course over smooth, dark stones after rain, creating soft, natural curves.
The stream's winding path as it follows the landscape is a meander. It shows how water wanders without fixed direction, creating a natural, relaxed curve that slowly carves its own way through the environment over time.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration