Meander
mediumNeutral tonemee-AN-der
verb
Definition
to wander aimlessly or follow a winding course
Memory hook
ME-ANDER: imagine ME plus a wandering goose named ANDER aimlessly winding through a field, taking the long, twisting way home.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The river meanders lazily through the valley before reaching the sea.”
“His lecture tended to meander, drifting from topic to topic without a clear point.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The river ______ lazily through the valley before reaching the sea.”
Show answer
meanders
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Meander is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "wander" or "ramble" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "proceed directly".
Related GRE Words
diffuse
to spread out widely; (as adjective) spread out and lacking concentration
itinerant
Traveling from place to place
meandering
Following a winding course; rambling and unfocused
stealthy
Behaving or done in a cautious and surreptitious manner
wayfaring
Traveling on foot
ascent
The act of rising or climbing up; an upward slope or path
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