rove

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rove contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rove are meander, ramble, roam, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is meander a more appropriate choice than rove?

The words meander and rove are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Where would ramble be a reasonable alternative to rove?

Although the words ramble and rove have much in common, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for rove?

The words roam and rove can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When might traipse be a better fit than rove?

The meanings of traipse and rove largely overlap; however, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

In what contexts can wander take the place of rove?

While in some cases nearly identical to rove, wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rove Its roving purple bus provides on-site health screenings, vaccinations, and management of chronic conditions. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 The roving camera seems to hunt Blanchett through her character’s London townhouse and hip industrial office space, both impeccably rendered in contrast with Stephen’s dowdy row house by production designer Neil Lamont and set decorator Pancho Chamorro. Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024 Marjoram + Roux is a cozy veggie-friendly cafe in Great Barrington with soups, panini, frittatas, delicious maple lattes and a pop-up dinner menu on Fridays with the roving restaurant After Hours. Lauren Matison, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2024 But his writing roved among genres, subjects, and moods—from recipes and food writing to fiction, memoir, and reportage—often all mixed together in a single piece. Alexis Okeowo, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rove 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rove
Verb
  • The service has roaming agreements with hundreds of carriers to support connectivity worldwide.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
  • The atoms in this liquid metallic hydrogen are squeezed so tightly that its electrons are free to roam.
    Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • People wander around and try to capture Pokémon using their smartphones.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Perfect for dashing through the airport and wandering around town.
    Erinne Magee, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The small projector lives on any nightstand or table, casting a slowly drifting sky of stars across the ceiling and walls.
    Malia Griggs, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Piano arpeggios drift in on the soundtrack, suggesting something lighter and more accepting even as the music flirts with atonality.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near rove

Cite this Entry

“Rove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rove. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on rove

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