perambulate

[ per-am-byuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·am·bu·lat·ed, per·am·bu·lat·ing.

1. to walk through, about, or over; travel through; traverse.
2. to traverse in order to examine or inspect.

verb (used without object)

, per·am·bu·lat·ed, per·am·bu·lat·ing.

1. to walk or travel about; stroll.

   Synonyms: ramble, meander, mosey, amble, promenade, saunter

perambulate

/ -trɪ; pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt; pəˈræmbjʊlətərɪ /

verb

1. to walk about (a place)
2. tr to walk round in order to inspect

Derived Forms

• perˌambuˈlation, noun
• perambulatory, adjective

Other Words From

• per·ambu·lation noun
• per·am·bu·la·to·ry [per-, am, -by, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perambulate¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin perambulātus, past participle of perambulāre “to walk through”; per-, ambulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of perambulate¹

C16: from Latin perambulāre to traverse, from per through + ambulāre to walk

Example Sentences

There we perambulate amongst different scenery and mobile-order food — masked, socially distant, seeking some watered-down sense of normalcy.

From Los Angeles Times

Dear Jane Austen fans: Run, don’t perambulate, to see “Lovers’ Vows.”

From Washington Post

Cleese’s habitual sardonicism notwithstanding, it’s a gentle sort of farce, tenderly played and set mostly to the speed at which the elder cast members perambulate.

From Los Angeles Times

We are wandering the streets of Dublin discussing O’Mara’s new book, In Praise of Walking, a backstage tour of what happens in our brains while we perambulate.

From The Guardian

But other, real-world studies and observations indicate that people rarely perambulate at their most efficient pace.

From New York Times