WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
roam /roʊm/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to travel without purpose;
wander: [no object]He roamed around the world for a few years.[~ + object]She roamed the countryside.
roam
(rōm),USA pronunciation v.i.
v.t.
n.
roam′er, n.
- to walk, go, or travel without a fixed purpose or direction;
ramble;
wander;
rove:to roam about the world.
v.t.
- to wander over or through:to roam the countryside.
n.
- an act or instance of roaming;
a ramble.
- ?
- Middle English romen 1300–50
- 1. stray, stroll, prowl. Roam, ramble, range, rove imply wandering about over (usually) a considerable amount of territory. Roam implies a wandering or traveling over a large area, esp. as prompted by restlessness or curiosity:to roam through a forest.Ramble implies pleasant, carefree moving about, walking with no specific purpose and for a limited distance:to ramble through fields near home.Range usually implies wandering over a more or less defined but extensive area in search of something:Cattle range over the plains.Rove sometimes implies wandering with specific incentive or aim, as an animal for prey:Bandits rove through these mountains.
'roamer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):