straying Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
   ramble; stray; cast; swan; drift; wander; tramp; range; rove; roam; vagabond; roll.
   
   • The gypsies roamed the woods
   • roving vagabonds
   • the wandering Jew
   • The cattle roam across the prairie
   • the laborers drift from one town to the next
   • They rolled from town to town
2. verb wander from a direct course or at random
   drift; err; stray.
   
   • The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her
   • don't drift from the set course
3. verb lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
   digress; divagate; wander; stray.
   
   • She always digresses when telling a story
   • her mind wanders
   • Don't digress when you give a lecture
4. adjective satellite unable to find your way
   
   • found the straying sheep

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