What It Means
To meander is to follow a winding or intricate course—that is, one with a lot of turns and curves—or to walk slowly without a specific goal, purpose, or direction.
We spent the afternoon meandering around the seaside town.
The river meanders through the canyon.
Meander in Context
“Hands down, my favorite hike has been the Seven Bridges Walk in downtown San Diego that starts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and meanders about 4.5 miles through surrounding neighborhoods, the downtown area and then back to Balboa Park.” — Scott Kramer, Forbes, 17 June 2025
Did You Know?
Meander first meandered into the language in the late 16th century not as verb but as a noun referring to a turn or winding of a stream. The word came to English, by way of Latin, ultimately from Maiandros, the Greek name for a river known today as the Menderes River in what is now southwestern Turkey. The more popular verb use dates to the early 17th century and means both “to follow a winding or intricate course” and “to ramble.” Despite its fluvial origins, these days meander is more commonly used to refer to a person’s wandering course than a river’s.
www.merriam-webster.com
