Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense rambles, present participle rambling, past tense, past participle rambled
1. countable noun
A ramble is a long walk in the countryside.
...an hour's ramble through the woods.
Synonyms: walk, tour, trip, stroll More Synonyms of ramble
2. verb
If you ramble, you go on a long walk in the countryside.
...freedom to ramble across the moors. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: walk, range, drift, wander More Synonyms of ramble
3. verb
If you say that a person rambles in their speech or writing, you mean they do not make much sense because they keep going off the subject in a confused way.
Sometimes she spoke sensibly; sometimes she rambled. [VERB]
It would have been best written in a more concise way as it does tend to ramble. [VERB]
Phrasal verbs:
See ramble on
More Synonyms of ramble
ramble in British English
(ˈræmbəl)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to stroll about freely, as for relaxation, with no particular direction
2.
(of paths, streams, etc) to follow a winding course; meander
3.
(of plants) to grow in a random fashion
4.
(of speech, writing, etc) to lack organization
noun
5.
a leisurely stroll, esp in the countryside
Word origin
C17: probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen to roam (of animals); see ram
ramble in American English
(ˈræmbəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈrambled or ˈrambling
1.
to roam about; esp., to walk or stroll about idly, without any special goal
2.
to talk or write aimlessly, without connection of ideas
3.
to grow or spread in all directions, as a vine
verb transitive
4.
to roam through
noun
5.
a rambling; esp., an aimless stroll
Word origin
var. of ME romblen, freq. of romen, to roam
Examples of 'ramble' in a sentence
ramble
They show the star sometimes rambling and at other times virtually incoherent.
The Sun (2010)
Why are we asked to listen to such rambling for so long?
Christianity Today (2000)
His speeches are often rambling and downbeat.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We have a long verbal ramble around the tricky task of interviewing politicians.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Do not let your answers ramble on too long.
Fletcher, Clive How to Face Interviews (1981)
We lived in a rambling old house by the coast, full of ghosts and spiders.
The Sun (2014)
Not many days afterwards she began to lose consciousness and lapsed into meaningless, rambling speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Ed gave me a long, rambling explanation of the content and process of the paintings.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She cast herself as a media victim, and failed to explain her reason for quitting during a rambling resignation speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I know: get out of the car and have a long rambling conversation in the street.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The one who writes the reviews that are long, rambling streams of consciousness before a couple of lines that are actually about the restaurant.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Here's a beautiful ramble in easy country (but muddy!
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Gone was the sometimes rambling, but always inspiring, rhetoric that electrified his campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The two men were brought up in rambling houses in the Home Counties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So what about the property they're selling, a rambling converted coach house and stables?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I loved the rambling house and the huge grounds, which were overgrown and included an orchard and a stream.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
At which point, being five, he launched into a long rambling story about a tortoise.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Natural History Museum or country ramble?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They look forward to taking her on rambling walks through the moors and, in time, teaching her how to play hockey.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
ramble
British English: ramble NOUN
A ramble is a long walk in the countryside.
...an hour's ramble through the woods.
American English: ramble
Brazilian Portuguese: caminhada
Chinese: > 漫步乡间的
European Spanish: caminata
French: randonnée
German: Wanderung
Italian: escursione
Japanese: 散策
Korean: > 산책시골길
European Portuguese: caminhada
Latin American Spanish: caminata
British English: ramble VERB
If you ramble, you go on a long walk in the countryside.
...freedom to ramble across the moors.
American English: ramble
Brazilian Portuguese: caminhar
Chinese: > 漫步乡间的
European Spanish: pasear
French: faire une randonnée
German: wandern
Italian: fare escursioni
Japanese: 散策する
Korean: > 산책하다시골길
European Portuguese: caminhar
Latin American Spanish: pasear
Chinese translation of 'ramble'
ramble
(ˈræmbl)
n(c)
(= walk) 散步 (sànbù)
vi
(= hike) 漫步 (mànbù)
(= talk) (also ramble on) 闲(閒)扯 (xiánchě)
(noun)
Definition
a walk, esp. in the countryside
an hour's ramble through the woods
Synonyms
walk
He often took long walks in the hills.
tour
week five of my tour of European cities
trip
On the Thursday we went out on a day trip.
stroll
After dinner, I took a stroll around the city.
hike
a hike around the cluster of hills
roaming
excursion
We also recommend a full day excursion to the Upper Douro.
roving
saunter
She began a slow saunter towards the bonfire.
traipse (informal)
peregrination
De Quincy's intoxicated peregrinations around London
perambulation
1 (verb)
Definition
to walk for relaxation, sometimes with no particular direction
freedom to ramble across the moors
Synonyms
walk
They walked in silence for a while.
range
They range widely in search of carrion.
drift
People drifted around the room.
wander
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
stroll
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
stray
A railway line crosses the park so children must not be allowed to stray.
roam
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
rove
roving about the town in the dead of night
amble
We ambled along in front of the houses.
saunter
We watched our fellow students saunter into the building.
straggle
They came straggling up the cliff road.
traipse (informal)
go walkabout (Australian)
perambulate
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
peregrinate
2 (verb)
Definition
to speak or write in a confused style
Sometimes she tended to ramble.
Synonyms
babble
They all babbled simultaneously.
go on
They're always going on about choice and market forces.
gas
wander
rabbit (on) (British, informal)
rattle
chatter
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
spout (informal)
She would go red in the face and start to spout.
waffle (informal, mainly British)
some guy on TV waffling on about some new product
drivel
I drivelled on about the big race that day.
drone on
gab
twitter
They were twittering excitedly about their new dresses.
digress
She digressed from the matter under discussion.
jabber
I left them there jabbering away
gabble
The child sat on his knee and gabbled excitedly.
rattle on
I listened in silence as Sam rattled on.
maunder
witter on (informal)
blether
expatiate
run off at the mouth (slang)
3 (verb)
Definition
to grow or develop in a random fashion
Synonyms
meander
The river meandered in lazy curves.
wind
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
twist and turn
zigzag
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amble
Definition
to walk at a leisurely pace
We ambled along in front of the houses.
Synonyms
stroll,
walk,
wander,
ramble,
meander,
saunter,
dawdle,
mosey (informal)
in the sense of chatter
Definition
to speak quickly and continuously about unimportant things
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
Synonyms
prattle,
chat,
rabbit on (British, informal),
babble,
gab (informal),
natter,
tattle,
jabber,
blather,
schmooze (slang),
blether (Scottish),
run off at the mouth (US, slang),
prate,
gossip
in the sense of digress
Definition
to depart from the main subject in speech or writing
She digressed from the matter under discussion.
Synonyms
wander,
drift,
stray,
depart,
ramble,
meander,
diverge,
deviate,
turn aside,
be diffuse,
expatiate,
go off at a tangent,
get off the point or subject
Nearby words of
ramble
rally around or round
ram
ram something home
ramble
rambler
rambling
ramification
Synonyms of 'ramble'
ramble
Explore 'ramble' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drift
Definition
to move aimlessly from one place or activity to another
People drifted around the room.
Synonyms
wander,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
meander,
rove,
range,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of drivel
Definition
to speak foolishly
I drivelled on about the big race that day.
Synonyms
babble,
ramble,
waffle (informal, British),
gab (informal),
gas (informal),
maunder,
blether,
prate
in the sense of excursion
Definition
a short outward and return journey, esp. for sightseeing, etc.
We also recommend a full day excursion to the Upper Douro.
Synonyms
trip,
airing,
tour,
journey,
outing,
expedition,
ramble,
day trip,
jaunt,
awayday,
pleasure trip
in the sense of gab
Definition
to talk a lot, esp. about unimportant things
Synonyms
chatter,
talk,
buzz,
rabbit (British, informal),
gossip,
jaw (slang),
spout,
babble,
waffle (informal, British),
yak (slang),
prattle,
jabber,
blather,
blabber,
run off at the mouth (slang),
chew the fat or rag (slang)
in the sense of gabble
Definition
to speak rapidly and indistinctly
The child sat on his knee and gabbled excitedly.
Synonyms
prattle,
chatter,
babble,
gibber,
jabber,
rattle,
rabbit on (British, informal),
blab,
blabber,
run off at the mouth (slang),
gush,
spout,
waffle (informal, British)
in the sense of go on
Definition
to talk at length and annoyingly
They're always going on about choice and market forces.
Synonyms
ramble on,
carry on,
chatter,
waffle (informal, British),
witter (on) (informal),
rabbit on (British, informal),
prattle,
blether,
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of hike
Definition
a long walk
a hike around the cluster of hills
Synonyms
walk,
march,
trek,
ramble,
tramp,
traipse,
journey on foot
in the sense of jabber
Definition
to speak very quickly and excitedly
I left them there jabbering away
Synonyms
chatter,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
ramble,
mumble,
babble,
waffle (informal, British),
drivel,
yap (informal),
tattle,
gabble,
blather,
blether,
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate
in the sense of peregrination
De Quincy's intoxicated peregrinations around London
Synonyms
travelling,
wandering,
trekking,
roaming,
roving,
globetrotting,
wayfaring
in the sense of range
Definition
to roam (over)
They range widely in search of carrion.
Synonyms
roam,
explore,
wander,
rove,
sweep,
cruise,
stroll,
ramble,
traverse,
go walkabout (Australian)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rattle on
Definition
to talk quickly and at length about something unimportant
I listened in silence as Sam rattled on.
Synonyms
prattle,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
chatter,
witter (informal),
cackle,
yak (away) (slang),
gibber,
jabber,
gabble,
blether,
prate,
run on,
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of roam
Definition
to walk about with no fixed purpose or direction
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
Synonyms
wander,
walk,
range,
travel,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
ramble,
prowl,
meander,
rove,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of rove
Definition
to wander about (a place)
roving about the town in the dead of night
Synonyms
wander,
range,
cruise,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
ramble,
meander,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
gallivant,
gad about,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of saunter
Definition
a leisurely pace or stroll
She began a slow saunter towards the bonfire.
Synonyms
stroll,
walk,
amble,
turn,
airing,
constitutional,
ramble,
promenade,
breather,
perambulation
in the sense of saunter
Definition
to walk in a leisurely manner
We watched our fellow students saunter into the building.
Synonyms
stroll,
wander,
amble,
roam,
ramble,
meander,
rove,
take a stroll,
mosey (informal),
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of snake
Definition
to glide or move in a winding course, like a snake
The road snaked through the forested mountains.
Synonyms
wind,
twist,
curve,
turn,
bend,
ramble,
meander,
deviate,
zigzag
in the sense of spout
Definition
to talk about (something) in a boring way or without much thought
She would go red in the face and start to spout.
Synonyms
hold forth,
talk,
rant,
go on (informal),
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
ramble (on),
pontificate,
declaim,
spiel (informal),
expatiate,
orate,
speechify
in the sense of straggle
Definition
to linger behind or wander from a main line or part
They came straggling up the cliff road.
Synonyms
trail,
drift,
wander,
range,
lag,
stray,
roam,
ramble,
rove,
loiter,
string out
in the sense of stray
Definition
to wander away from the correct path or from a given area
A railway line crosses the park so children must not be allowed to stray.
Synonyms
wander,
roam,
go astray,
range,
drift,
meander,
rove,
straggle,
lose your way,
be abandoned or lost,
stra
in the sense of stroll
Definition
a leisurely walk
After dinner, I took a stroll around the city.
Synonyms
walk,
promenade,
turn,
airing,
constitutional,
excursion,
ramble,
breath of air
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stroll
Definition
to walk about in a leisurely manner
We strolled back, put the kettle on and settled down.
Synonyms
walk,
ramble,
amble,
wander,
promenade,
saunter,
stooge (slang),
take a turn,
toddle,
make your way,
mooch (slang),
mosey (informal),
stretch your legs
in the sense of tour
Definition
an extended journey visiting places of interest along the route
week five of my tour of European cities
Synonyms
journey,
expedition,
excursion,
trip,
progress,
outing,
jaunt,
junket,
peregrination
in the sense of trip
Definition
a journey to a place and back, esp. for pleasure
On the Thursday we went out on a day trip.
Synonyms
journey,
outing,
excursion,
day out,
run,
drive,
travel,
tour,
spin (informal),
expedition,
voyage,
ramble,
foray,
jaunt,
errand,
junket (informal),
awayday
in the sense of twitter
They were twittering excitedly about their new dresses.
Synonyms
chatter,
chat,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
gossip,
babble,
gab (informal),
prattle,
natter,
jabber,
blather,
prate
in the sense of waffle
Definition
to speak or write in a vague and wordy manner
some guy on TV waffling on about some new product
Synonyms
chatter,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
babble,
drivel,
prattle,
jabber,
gabble,
rattle on,
verbalize,
blather,
witter on (informal),
blether,
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate,
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of wander
Definition
to walk about in a place without any definite purpose or destination
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
Synonyms
roam,
walk,
drift,
stroll,
range,
cruise,
stray,
ramble,
prowl,
meander,
rove,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
mooch around (slang),
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
knock about or around,
peregrinate
in the sense of wind
Definition
to follow a twisting course
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.