To meander is to follow a winding or intricate course—that is, one with a lot of turns and curves—or to walk slowly without a specific goal, purpose, or direction.

// We spent the afternoon meandering around the seaside town.

// The river meanders through the canyon.

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"Hands down, my favorite hike has been the Seven Bridges Walk in downtown San Diego that starts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and meanders about 4.5 miles through surrounding neighborhoods, the downtown area and then back to Balboa Park." — Scott Kramer, Forbes, 17 June 2025

Meander first meandered into the language in the late 16th century not as verb but as a noun referring to a turn or winding of a stream. The word came to English, by way of Latin, ultimately from Maiandros, the Greek name for a river known today as the Menderes River in what is now southwestern Turkey. The more popular verb use dates to the early 17th century and means both "to follow a winding or intricate course" and "to ramble." Despite its fluvial origins, these days meander is more commonly used to refer to a person's wandering course than a river's.