ENGLISH
REFERENCE

roam

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹoʊm// UK //ɹˈəʊm// roam

v. to walk or travel around a large area without a specific plan or goal. You use this when someone is moving freely through a space just to explore it.

v. to move about or travel over a wide area without a fixed course or destination. Often used to describe the movement of animals in the wild or people exploring a landscape.


SIMPLE

The sheep roam freely across the green hills.

CONTEXTUAL

During the summer holidays, the children were allowed to roam through the woods until sunset.

COMPLEX

In the digital age, users can roam across different networks and platforms, yet this freedom of movement often leaves a trail of data that is meticulously tracked by advertisers.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English romen, from Old English rāmian, from Proto-Germanic raimōną (“to wander”), from raim- (“to move, raise”), from *h₃reyH- (“to move, lift, flow”). Akin to Old English ārǣman (“to arise, stand up, lift up”), Old High German rāmēn (“to aim”) ( > archaic German rahmen (“to strive”)), Middle Dutch rammen (“to night-wander, to copulate”), rammelen (“to wander about, ramble”). More at ramble.

Usage

The verb can be used both transitively ('roam the streets') and intransitively ('roam through the streets').

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