# roaming

/ˈɹoʊmɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roaming
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wandering

verb · CEFR B2

moving or travelling around a large area without a specific goal.

For teachers: moving about aimlessly or unsystematically over a wide area; the present participle form of 'roam'.

- We spent the afternoon roaming through the old streets of the city.
- Wild cattle were seen roaming across the plains, undisturbed by the presence of the researchers' distant camp.

### 2. mobile phone service

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

using your mobile phone on a different network, usually when you are in another country.

For teachers: the ability for a customer to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network.

- Check your mobile plan to see if roaming is included before you travel abroad.
- The European Union eliminated additional roaming charges for citizens travelling between member states, significantly reducing the cost of mobile data usage.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun or as a modifier in 'roaming charges'.

### 3. computing profiles

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way your computer files and settings follow you when you log in to different devices on the same network.

For teachers: the technology that allows a user's profile, including documents and settings, to be synchronised across multiple workstations within a managed network environment.

- With roaming enabled, I can see my desktop icons on any computer in the office.
- The IT department implemented roaming profiles to ensure that staff could access their personalised settings regardless of which terminal they used.

Usage: Typically refers to 'roaming profiles' in a Windows server environment.

## Examples

- Check the costs before you start roaming in another country.
- Most modern mobile plans include international roaming, allowing users to access the internet while traveling abroad without changing SIM cards.
- The European Union has implemented regulations to eliminate additional roaming charges, ensuring that citizens pay the same rates for mobile services regardless of which member state they are visiting.

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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.