WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
strag•gle /ˈstrægəl/USA pronunciation
v. [no object], -gled, -gling.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to wander from a road.
- to lag or be behind a line of march, a group walking, or a group working:He's straggling behind the group and may get lost.
- to grow or spread at irregular spaces or intervals:trees straggling over the hillside.
strag•gle
(strag′əl),USA pronunciation v.i., -gled, -gling.
strag′gler, n.
strag′gling•ly, adv.
- to stray from the road, course, or line of march.
- to wander about in a scattered fashion;
ramble. - to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals:The trees straggle over the countryside.
- ?
- Middle English straglen 1350–1400
strag′gling•ly, adv.
'straggler' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):