straying Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
    ramble; stray; cast; swan; drift; wander; tramp; range; rove; roam; vagabond; roll.
    • The gypsies roamed the woods
    • roving vagabonds
    • the wandering Jew
    • The cattle roam across the prairie
    • the laborers drift from one town to the next
    • They rolled from town to town
  2. verb wander from a direct course or at random
    drift; err; stray.
    • The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her
    • don't drift from the set course
  3. verb lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
    digress; divagate; wander; stray.
    • She always digresses when telling a story
    • her mind wanders
    • Don't digress when you give a lecture
  4. adjective satellite unable to find your way
    • found the straying sheep

WordNet