# meander

/miˈændɝ/ (US) · /miːˈændɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meander
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

to follow a path that is not straight, like a river that curves back and forth. You can also use it to describe a person walking slowly without a clear direction.

For teachers: to follow a winding or indirect course; to wander aimlessly or without a fixed destination. Often describes the physical path of a river or the conversational style of a speaker.

## Examples

- The small stream meanders through the green fields.
- We spent the afternoon meandering through the old city streets, stopping at whatever shops caught our eye.
- The river meanders across the flood plain in wide loops, eventually creating oxbow lakes when the current cuts through the narrowest points of the bends.

## Usage notes

- Intransitive verb; does not take a direct object. Often followed by prepositions like 'through', 'along', or 'across'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.