saunter
/ˈsɔːntə
/verb [no object, with adverbial of direction]
Walk in a slow, relaxed manner: Adam sauntered into the room...
- He smiled in a twisted manner, sauntering into the study.
- Finally, Wayne heard the toilet flush and Lance sauntered back into the living room.
- She returned back inside, sauntering into the drawing room where she resumed her position on the window seat, picking up the book.
Synonyms
stroll, amble, wander, meander, drift, maunder, potter, walk, promenade, ramble;
go for a walk, go for a stroll, take a walk, stretch one's legs, take the air;
Scottish & Irish stravaig;
Irish streel
informal mosey, tootle
British informal pootle, bimble
rare perambulate
noun
A leisurely stroll: a quiet saunter down the road...
- Oblivious to his hectic surroundings, the man carried on with his lonely saunter until he reached an uncharacteristically quiet corner of the courtyard void of any activity.
- People are generally happier after a light saunter, as well.
- Our daily parade down the Croisette has turned from a saunter to a stagger.
Synonyms
stroll, amble, wander, meander, walk, turn, constitutional, ramble, airing, promenade, breather;
North American paseo;
Italian passeggiata
informal mosey, tootle
British informal pootle, bimble
Derivatives
saunterer
- It creates a world of cheerful saunterers along small bridges and crosswalks, and outdoor cafe couples with their glasses chiming.
- Long, drowsy, dusty days when the shade of trees calls the saunterer into the woods to seek out dark, cool places by small streams.
- Hearing us, other saunterers turned and stared as if we were in Rome or Paris or Hell.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'to muse, wonder'): of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the mid 17th century.