Thesaurus results for ROVE

Q: How does the verb 'rove' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rove are meander , ramble , roam , traipse , and wander . While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming. // armed brigands roved over the countryside

Q: When is 'meander' a more appropriate choice than 'rove'?

The words meander and rove are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering. // the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Q: Where would 'ramble' be a reasonable alternative to 'rove'?

Although the words ramble and rove have much in common, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective. // the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

Q: When would 'roam' be a good substitute for 'rove'?

The words roam and rove can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield. // liked to roam through the woods

Q: When might 'traipse' be a better fit than 'rove'?

The meanings of traipse and rove largely overlap; however, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful. // traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

Q: In what contexts can 'wander' take the place of 'rove'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rove , wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course. // fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

rove

verb

ˈrōv

Definition of rove next

as in to roam

to move about from place to place aimlessly buffalo roving over the vast plains

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb rove contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rove are meander, ramble, roam, traipse, and wander. While all these words mean "to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose," rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming.

armed brigands roved over the countryside

When is meander a more appropriate choice than rove?

The words meander and rove are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering.

the river meanders for miles through rich farmland

Where would ramble be a reasonable alternative to rove?

Although the words ramble and rove have much in common, ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective.

the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point

When would roam be a good substitute for rove?

The words roam and rove can be used in similar contexts, but roam suggests wandering about freely and often far afield.

liked to roam through the woods

When might traipse be a better fit than rove?

The meanings of traipse and rove largely overlap; however, traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful.

traipsed all over town looking for the right dress

In what contexts can wander take the place of rove?

While in some cases nearly identical to rove, wander implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course.

fond of wandering about the square just watching the people

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rove Koepp’s scenes, confined to the two-story house or just outside it, play out as acts of voyeurism, sometimes a line or two in a bedroom, sometimes longer scenes roving around the house. —

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025 The rest of the crowd, seen through the roving, irony-hungry cable-news cameras, was all farcical adjacency: Jared Kushner sat not far from Zuckerberg, both shaking hands robotically and otherwise playacting at human social skills. —

Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 He will be based out of Tampa, where the Yankees have their player development complex, but will rove around the organization throughout the season. —

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025 Under Joseph Losey’s direction, the seedy streets of Berlin become the sunny avenues of Los Angeles, the shambling beggars become roving gangs of coiffed teenage boys, the killer’s drink changes from schnapps to bourbon, and the overall effect is a little less morally ambiguous than the original. —

Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rove

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rove

Verb

The legacy of the British Q-ships During World War I, more than 200 Q-ships—and perhaps as many as 400—roamed the seas.

— Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about.

— Sarah Han, Allure, 16 Feb. 2025