1
a
: a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost
b
: a person or thing that strays
2
[Middle English, from straien to stray] archaic
: the act of going astray
strayed; straying; strays
: wander: such as
a
: to wander from company, restraint, or proper limits
b
: to roam about without fixed direction or purpose
c
: to move in a winding course : meander
d
: to move without conscious or intentional effort
eyes straying absently around the room
e
: to become distracted from an argument or train of thought
strayed from the point
f
: to wander accidentally from a fixed or chosen route
strayer
noun
Examples of stray in a Sentence
Noun
Both of her cats were strays that she found wandering in the neighborhood.
Verb
The airplane strayed off course.
our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow
Adjective
stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
The charming feline was brought into the shelter as a stray, and her owner’s information was discovered on a microchip, Lily Darling, the community engagement manager at the humane society told McClatchy News.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Prioritizing Trends Over Brand Values A major mistake is prioritizing trends over alignment, where chasing virality leads to campaigns that stray from core brand values.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2025
Worker Goes Viral for Resigning Without Notice, Experts Warn Against It
Man Moves for Work, Stunned by Contract Sister Makes Him Sign
This phenomenon often describes how stray cats show up unannounced and claim a home as their own.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
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Noun
Originally found as a stray, Bo was brought into the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford, Connecticut.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
The charming feline was brought into the shelter as a stray, and her owner’s information was discovered on a microchip, Lily Darling, the community engagement manager at the humane society told McClatchy News.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
Lee Sohl, the animal control officer in Kent, told the AP that stray farm animals are common in Kent as cows, horses and goats get loose quite often.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Prioritizing Trends Over Brand Values A major mistake is prioritizing trends over alignment, where chasing virality leads to campaigns that stray from core brand values.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
An ordinance is set to be introduced next week that would end that arrangement and make the city responsible once again for picking up stray animals and responding to dog bite complaints and animal welfare calls, the press secretary for Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed on Tuesday.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2025
Worker Goes Viral for Resigning Without Notice, Experts Warn Against It
Man Moves for Work, Stunned by Contract Sister Makes Him Sign
This phenomenon often describes how stray cats show up unannounced and claim a home as their own.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stray
Cite this Entry
“Stray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stray. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stray
1 of 3 noun1
: a domestic animal that is wandering loose or is lost
2
: a person or thing that strays
stray
2 of 3 verb1
: to wander from a group or from the proper place : roam
the dog strayed from the yard
2
: to wander from a fixed or chosen route or at random
accidentally strayed off the path
3
: to become distracted from an argument or chain of thought
strayed from the point
strayer
noun
stray
3 of 3 adjective1
: having strayed or been lost
a stray dog
2
: occurring in one place and another or at random
a few stray hairs
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