Word
stray
US/ˈstɹeɪ/
UK/stɹˈeɪ/
Definitions
01to wander away
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to move away from a group or a path where you are supposed to be.
v. to wander from a direct course, a group, or a designated area. Intransitive; often takes the preposition 'from'.
“The hikers were told not to stray from the marked trail in the forest.”
“Several sheep managed to stray from the flock during the storm, forcing the farmer to search the hills until dusk.”
02to lose focus
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to start thinking or talking about something different from the main subject.
v. to deviate from a subject of discussion or a line of thought.
“The teacher asked the students not to stray from the topic of the essay.”
“While the keynote speaker was engaging, he tended to stray into personal anecdotes that had little to do with the conference theme.”
Antonyms
03homeless animal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a pet or domestic animal that is lost or has no home.
n. a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost, lacking an owner or enclosure.
“They found a stray cat shivering under their car and took it to the shelter.”
“The local animal rescue centre is currently overwhelmed with strays brought in after the summer holidays.”
Synonyms
04casual insult
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Informal
n. an insult or criticism directed at someone who was not the original target.
n. a casual or offhand insult, often one that hits a person who was not the primary subject of a conflict.
“I was just sitting there minding my own business and I caught a stray.”
“The comedian's rant was mostly about the government, but several celebrities caught strays during the performance.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'to catch a stray'.
05misplaced or alone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. found in the wrong place or separated from a group.
adj. occurring in isolation or found away from the proper or expected place.
“She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face before the photo.”
“The researcher noted a few stray data points that did not fit the overall trend of the experiment.”
Real-World Examples
“Israeli soldiers have killed Palestinians who have strayed too close to the line, and al-Jadba knows that it is too dangerous for him to even try to access his farmland.” “A woman goes on a voyage into her past after a stray dog turns up on her doorstep and she sets about trying to find its owner.” Etymology
From Middle English stray, strey, from Anglo-Norman estray, stray, Old French estrai, from the verb (see below).
From Middle English strayen, partly from Old French estraier, from Vulgar Latin via strata, and partly from Middle English strien, streyen, streyȝen (“to spread, scatter”), from Old English strēġan (“to strew”).
From Middle English stray, from the noun (see above).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. catch a stray
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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