meander
/miˈæn.də/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To move slowly in a winding, uneven path. It often suggests no fixed direction or hurry.
- The river meanders through the valley.
- We meandered around the old town.
- She meandered home after dinner.
- 2.
To talk or write in a loose, wandering way. It suggests the main point is not reached quickly.
- His answer meandered for several minutes.
- The lecture meandered into unrelated topics.
noun
A winding curve in a river or road. It is less common than the verb.
- The map shows a meander in the river.
- We walked along a meander in the road.
Adinary Nuance
Meander is similar to wander, roam, and drift, but it usually adds the idea of a winding path or a slow, indirect route. For movement, it is more specific than wander because the path is often curved, like a river or a walk. For speech or writing, it suggests going off-topic in a gentle, not sharp, way. Use it when you want to show lack of straightness or focus.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- uốn lượn
- Spanish
- serpentear
- Chinese
- 蜿蜒
- Japanese
- 曲がりくねる
- Korean
- 구불구불하다
Etymology
Meander comes from Latin and Greek. It was first used in English in the 14th century, from the name of a winding river in Asia Minor.
Common phrases
meander throughmeander alongmeandering pathmeandering river
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is meander formal or informal?
- It is neutral, and common in writing. It can also be used in everyday speech.
- What is the difference between meander and wander?
- Wander means move without a clear direction. Meander often means move in a winding, curved way.
- Can meander describe speech?
- Yes. It can mean someone talks in a loose, indirect way.
- Is meander common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially when describing rivers, roads, or unclear speech.