ramble

UK: /ˈræmb^əl/ US: /ˈræmbəl/ ,(ram′bəl)

Inflections of 'ramble' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

rambles

v 3rd person singular

rambling

v pres p

rambled

v past

rambled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ram•ble /ˈræmbəl/   v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v. [no object]

1. to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner for pleasure;
   stroll.
2. to have a course or direction with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.
3. to talk or write in a wandering manner, often for a long time.

n. [countable]

4. a leisurely walk without a definite route.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ram•ble  (ram′bəl), v., -bled, -bling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner:
   They rambled through the shops until closing time.
2. to take a course with many turns or windings, as a stream or path.
3. to grow in a random, unsystematic fashion:
   The vine rambled over the walls and tree trunks.
4. to talk or write in a discursive, aimless way (usually fol. by on):
   The speaker rambled on with anecdote after anecdote.

v.t. 

5. to walk aimlessly or idly over or through:
   They spent the spring afternoon rambling woodland paths.

n. 

6. a walk without a definite route, taken merely for pleasure.

• origin, originally uncertain 1610–20

Synonyms

• 1. stroll, saunter, amble, stray, straggle. See roam. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ramble / ˈræmb^əl/ verb (intransitive)

1. to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction
2. (of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander
3. (of plants) to grow in a random fashion
4. (of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization

noun

1. a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside

Etymology: 17th Century: probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen to roam (of animals); see ram